Nokia has made a striking move this week, bringing in its first non-Finnish CEO. The mobile device manufacturer has named Stephen Elop as the new head of Nokia. The decision shows Nokia’s concern and vulnerability around the future of its company, as Apple, Android and even RIM threaten to encroach on its space.

A Microsoft veteran, Elop has experience in software, having also served at Juniper Networks, Adobe and Macromedia. The background in software will be important for Nokia’s next steps, as such a large mobile firm will be focused on the development of its platform, creating devices that can run various programs in the rapidly evolving mobile industry. The Wall Street Journal offers additional details,

The company remains dominated by a strong board chairman and an influential, mainly Finnish, management team, Bernstein said in a note to investors, and software behemoth Microsoft may not be the best pool for developing managers who drive change.

“I am extremely excited to become part of a team dedicated to strengthening Nokia’s position,” Elop said in a statement. “I am confident that together we can continue to deliver innovative products that meet the needs of consumers.”

Though Nokia’s Symbian platform is still top dog on a global scale, Gartner’s mobile market report this week slotted Android as the rising star, having just snagged the number two position. The U.S. market has also been tough for Nokia to completely crack, especially as the iPhone has prevailed here for so long.

Apple has moved beyond entertainment media to more business-oriented apps, hoping to expand its user base and gain some key enterprise partnerships. This “Apple virus” has also been a concern for Nokia and RIM, as enterprise has been a strong sector.  Mark “Rizzn” Hopkins shares his personal experiences from his days with the mobile manufacturer;

“Nokia has a long history of innovation, and their willingness to push the boundaries on their business model was certainly prevalent when I was with the company. With the rapid onslaught of the iPhone in the mobile market, Nokia has lost their way as thought leaders. Innovation and community, which Nokia have always seemed to understand at a corporate level, are the driving factors they must re-engage to take any sort of leadership role in the industry.”