Nokia CEO Stephen Elop to become new lead of Microsoft’s devices division, including Xbox

Today, Microsoft announced that it's acquiring Nokia's Devices and Services division for over $7.1 billion. The Devices and Services division includes Nokia's smartphone and mobile product arms. Though the deal isn't expected to close until 2014, it looks like Microsoft is going to aggressively push the Windows Phone, now that they have Nokia as an in-house smartphone development infrastructure.

How is this gaming relevant? Well, Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop, is joining Microsoft to lead an "expanded devices team." Since Don Mattrick left Microsoft to become CEO of Zynga, Julie Larson-Green has been running Microsoft's Devices and Studio Engineering division — the division that includes all hardware, including the Xbox. Larson-Green will lead the division until the acquisition is completed, at which point Elop will lead the new division — which will still include Xbox. Larson-Green will join Elop's team and work under him.

You can follow Senior Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, movies, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at LLiebl@GameZone.com

[IGN via NeoGaf]