­Ericsson's new Head of Ericsson Research, Group Function Technology, has been named: Sara Mazur, a scientist with 17 years of experience in research and development, who has held various management positions within the company. Mazur succeeds Jan Färjh, who has taken up another position within Ericsson as Head of Standardization and Industry, Group Function Technology.

Mazur, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, is currently Vice President and Head of System Management within Business Unit Networks. Her most recent focus has been on unit-wide technology and research coordination and strategic management of technologies.

Mazur has worked on advanced technology throughout her career to strengthen Ericsson's technical excellence. She started at Ericsson Research in 1995, and has since held many management positions in the group; among other things, she has served as expert and head of a research unit responsible for radio network research.

Mazur will now be a member of Group Function Technology's leadership team, headed by Ericsson CTO Ulf Ewaldsson, and will be based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Ewaldsson says: "Sara Mazur has worked very closely with the development of the telecommunications industry. It is because of people like her that our company is a technology leader. She will bring her vast experience to lead our research function to realize technologies for the benefit of people, business and society."

Mazur graduated with a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, where she is an Associate Professor in fusion plasma physics.

She says: "I have always been interested in, and curious about, technology. I am a researcher at heart; 69 of my inventions have been patented, and I am extremely happy to dedicate my time to working with such skilled people at Ericsson Research."