Sony Ericsson Gets New North American Leader

The News & Observer reports that Sony Ericsson has named AT&T Wireless Services exec Najmi Jarwalaa as its new president to oversee the company's struggling North American operations.

According to estimates by Strategy Analytics, the four-year-old joint venture attained just 3 percent market share in North America last year. Chris Ambrosio at Strategy Analyticsm said, "In the U.S., it's been a perpetual issue. They're down towards the bottom."

Yankee Group analyst John Jackson added, "Their problem is, they may be ahead of the market a little bit. Their portfolio position is to be your next handset, not your first."

Roger Entner at Ovum Research, commented that Sony Ericsson was "being squeezed by Motorola and Nokia from one side and by Asian competitors from the other side." He said, "He really has to give Sony Ericsson back its profile and distinctive nature, rather than being driftwood."