Age: 62
Nationality: Swedish
www.ericsson.com

Ericsson is playing a leading role in building the mobile systems that will make high-speed, always-on mobile Internet access possible.

Under Ramqvist's leadership, Ericsson has become bigger than its two closest competitors combined in mobile infrastructure, a market worth $150 billion in Europe alone. But some analysts question whether the firm's positive results in the mobile systems business will outweigh its astounding losses in mobile handsets.

Ramqvist expects the handset division to creep back to profitability by the second half of next year, but by that time Asian rivals will likely edge out Ericsson, which is fighting back by striking alliances with the likes of Microsoft.

The vision thing: "We are working closely with players such as Microsoft, Visa International and SEB to deliver mobile applications for banking, shopping and entertainment."

Forward spin: Ericsson will spend the better part of 2001 streamlining manufacturing and concentrating its product portfolio to try and bring its consumer division back to profit.

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