Samsung has appointed Giuseppe Donagemma (pictured), a former senior NSN exec, as the new head of its mobile networking business in Europe.

The choice of Donagemma as head of Samsung Networks Europe is not the first hire from its rival as the South Korean giant tries to drag up the less-heralded side of its mobile business.

Last autumn Samsung snapped up former NSN chief executive Simon Beresford-Wylie for a key role at its networking business.

Donagemma was previously “responsible for Nokia Solutions and Networks in Europe”, according to Samsung. However, NSN’s own website (which curiously still discloses Donagemma’s details), describes him as “head of west south Europe region”, a slightly different title.

Samsung’s announcement praises Donagemma for having “ensured healthy profitability for the company (NSN) at a time of global economic crisis”.

Since leaving NSN, he has been an adviser and board member for several technology and private equity firms.

The Samsung Networks Europe unit was set up to strengthen the vendor’s presence in the region. So far, customers are sparse although the Korean vendor is the sole supplier of a LTE network to 3 Ireland.