Nokia Siemens Networks has appointed in-house veteran Joyce Norcini as its new general counsel.

Norcini joined the telecoms company earlier this week (2 August) from Hewlett-Packard (HP), where she was regional general counsel for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

She is taking over the role from Sirpa-Helena Sormunen, who has been acting general counsel since the departure of Kirsi Komi earlier this year. Sormunen will continue in her role as head of legal and compliance in the customer operations division.

Norcini, who started her career as a prosecutor with the Office of the District Attorney in New York, spent a total of 13 years with HP, where she advised on the 2002 merger of HP and Compaq. She also advised on the printer manufacturer's $14bn (£9bn) acquisition of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 2008, which saw Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Willkie Farr & Gallagher secure lead advisory roles.

Norcini was appointed to the EMEA general counsel role for HP in 2007, having previously been deputy general counsel in the company's technology solutions group.

She will be based in Nokia Siemens Networks' headquarters in Espoo, Finland.

Norcini will report directly to Nokia Siemens Networks chief executive Rajeev Suri, who commented: "Having played a crucial role in two of the IT industry's largest mergers, we can draw on the extensive experience that Joyce brings. I look forward to her joining us during this key period."

HP has appointed HP vice president and deputy general counsel David Bruscino to a wider role as EMEA and emerging markets general counsel. Bruscino had previously also held the GC function for HP in the Asia-Pacific/Japan region and has also worked as Latin America GC at AOL.

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