As if to emphasize the role technology plays in overall company strategy, Ericsson is shifting the responsibility for the company’s strategy to CTO Ulf Ewaldsson. The company announced today that Ewaldsson will be chief strategy and technology officer as well as head of group function strategy and technology for the company. Previously, he was SVP and CTO as well as head of group function technology. Ewaldsson joined Ericsson in 1990.

Rima Quereshi, who previously was SVP and chief strategy officer and head of Ericsson North America, will continue to oversee the company’s North America business including Ericsson’s partnership with Cisco Systems.

Quereshi was named head of North America in April when Ericsson restructured and replaced Angel Ruiz, the former head of Ericsson North America. Ruiz was a familiar face in the wireless industry and had led Ericsson’s North America division since 2001.

Ericsson and Cisco announced their partnership last November. At the time they said Ericsson would begin reselling Cisco products right away. In July the two companies said that Quereshi and her counterpart at Cisco talk once a week. In addition, the two companies said that about 1,100 Ericsson engineers are certified with over 2,500 Cisco certifications.