Nokia to Relocate Itasca Division to Chicago

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

Nokia confirmed its commitment to Chicago by announcing, together with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the relocation of its Mobile Phones Xpress Internet Services group from Itasca to Chicago. Nokia’s largest office in North America is already located in Chicago and houses approximately 1,200 employees.

Nokia’s Mobile Phones Xpress Internet Services group will join the Location & Commerce business and will bring approximately 150 jobs to the city. Additionally, the company also plans to add 100 local tech jobs, pushing Nokia’s headcount in Chicago to nearly 1,500.

“Nokia’s growth in Chicago is a huge win for the city of Chicago and further testament that the technology space in the city is exploding,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “More and more companies in this space are seeing that Chicago has the top talent available to help innovate and grow businesses in the coming years. I look forward to working with Nokia to extend Chicago’s leadership and growth, creating jobs and economic opportunity for years to come.”

The relocation of the Mobile Phones Xpress Internet Services group and the hiring of additional personnel for the Location & Commerce business will take Nokia’s overall presence in Chicago to encompass over 350,000 square feet of leased office space. The relocation of the Nokia team from Itasca to Chicago did not involve any financial incentives.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel earlier this year announced the City’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, produced by World Business Chicago, which features 10 growth strategies for Chicago’s economy. One of the key points presented in the report is the attraction of new corporate, regional and divisional headquarters. The Nokia announcement marks the 10th headquarters move announced by Mayor Emanuel in his tenure.