Sony Ericsson UK MD quits

Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland managing director (pictured) has quit to join premium bluetooth headset brand Jawbone.

He is the third UK manufacturer boss to leave his role in recent weeks, following Jim Michel's departure from Motorola and Simon Ainslie's move to a global role within Nokia.

Harber will be replaced January 5 by UK sales director Nathan Vautier.

Jawbone is the headset brand of privately-held US firm Aliph, set up in 2006 by Stanford Universitry undergraduates to pitch their patented noise cancellation technology into the mobile space.

Aliph's 'NoiseAssassin' technology employs two speakers in Jawbone headsets, one in the mouthpiece and one pointed to pick up external noise. The technology identified and cancels out external noise to provide a crisp line in crowded, busy environment.

Harber has been Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland managing director since February 2006, and was with Sony for 15 years prior. His stewardship has coincided with a remarkable rise in global and UK sales through 2007.

The UK business unit has been steady this year, even as the global business posted significant losses.