Nokia is to move its Asia Pacific headquarters from Singapore to Beijing and is reportedly favouring the founder of mobile security software maker F-Secure, Risto Siilasmaa, to succeed current chairman Jorma Ollila later this year.

The move to Beijing is understood by Dow Jones Newswires to be aimed at improving business efficiency and achieving savings targets. A Nokia spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires that the company wants to adapt its operations to the business environment. “This includes an increasing focus on assembly in Asia, close to our suppliers," the spokesman said. No information was given about how many employees would be affected by the move.

Meanwhile, a source told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that Siilasmaa was seen as a frontrunner for chairman although no decision has been made, with Nokia’s nomination committee yet to meet to recommend a new chairman. Nokia declined to comment regarding the matter.

And in another twist, rumours of Microsoft buying Nokia‘s smartphone division have resurfaced, with claims that key execs at the firms will meet in Las Vegas next week to discuss the sale. The move would potentially leave the Finnish firm pushing a portfolio of feature phones once the smartphone sale is completed in the second half of this year, while reports suggest Stephen Elop would also resign as Nokia CEO.