One of the features that many folks first look at on a new Nokia smartphone is its camera, and the company has released several handsets with respectable shooters recently, including the 808 PureView and Lumia 920. Today it's been revealed that the camera-focused portion of Nokia will soon be taking a bit of a hit, as Lead Program Manager of Imaging Experience Damian Dinning is leaving the company. Dinning has employed by Nokia since 2004. According to Amateur Photographer, Dinning's decision to leave "came as a blow" to Nokia executives. The company's statement on this matter is as follows:

"Following the relocation of key strategic roles to Finland, and with great reluctance, Damian Dinning has made a personal decision to leave the company effective November 30, 2012. During the past nine years, Damian has made many innovative and valuable contributions to Nokia, most recently as a lead program manager in our Smart Devices business. We thank him for his service to the company and certainly wish him the best."

Prior to working at Nokia, Dinning was a part of firms like Eastman Kodak and the U.K. arm of Minolta. Obviously losing any high-up executive is a big deal, but Dinning's departure is especially notable because of Nokia's focus on cameras and imaging as of late. As part of his duties at Nokia, Dinning also worked with Microsoft on developing imaging in Windows Phone. It's not yet clear what Dinning may be planning next, but with all of his camera experience, it'll certainly be interesting to see where he ends up. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: In a statement sent to PureView Club, Damian Dinning has revealed that he'll be joining Jaguar Land Rover in a job where he'll be "driving future innovations in the exciting new field of Connected Car."

Via The Verge, Amateur Photographer, Engadget, PureView Club