Symbian software boss may quit

DAVID Levin, chief executive of mobile phone software maker Symbian, is likely to quit after the sale of Psion's stake in his company.

Levin, a former right-hand man to Psion founder David Potter, declined to comment, but City sources said he was 'bitterly disappointed' that Psion has sold to Finnish phone giant Nokia for £136 million, effectively ending hopes of a stock market flotation.

Levin, right, moved from Psion to Symbian in 2002 when a float seemed certain.

'I rather doubt he wants to be in charge of a research division at a Finnish phone company,' the source said.

Speculation over Levin's future intensified after Potter won the vote to approve the Symbian sale. Psion's largest investor, Phoenix Asset Management, voted against, arguing that a flotation of Symbian would realise greater value.

Some shareholders feel the deal still might not go through because of possible opposition by US regulators.