COPENHAGEN, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Finland's Nokia

on Monday said its CEO Pekka Lundmark would step down

and that it had appointed Justin Hotard to take over his role.

Hotard, who takes up the position on April 1, currently

leads the Data Center & AI Group at Intel ( INTC ).

"He has a strong track record of accelerating growth in

technology companies along with vast expertise in AI and data

center markets, which are critical areas for Nokia's future

growth," Nokia's Chair Sari Baldauf said in a statement.