Founding Dopplr investor Marko Ahtisaari is joining the travel-plans social network full-time as CEO, replacing Lisa Sounio who will stay on as chairman of the board. Ahtisaari left Nokia (NYSE: NOK) two years ago as director of design strategy, where he worked with Dopplr co-founder Matt Jones on mobile user experiences. He had taken a similar position at ad-funded mobile net Blyk, where he will continue as an adviser, and was an early investor in Dopplr but will now join properly on January 1. Does Ahtisaari’s joining point to a potential path for Dopplr down the mobile route, where there is clear traveller potential?
Sounio’s chairmanship will be of board members Tyler Brule (former Wallpaper* publisher) and investor Saul Klein. Dopplr got a second round investment from a host of dot.commers like Lars Hinrichs, Joshua Schachter and Azeem Azhar. Dopplr has offices in Hoxton/Shoreditch and Helsinki. Release.