Google Exec Hugo Barra Leaves to Join China’s Xiaomi

Hugo Barra, the vice president of product management for Google’s mobile platform Android has announced that he is leaving the company to join China based Xiaomi.

Google confirmed the news saying, “We’ll miss him at Google and we’re excited that he is staying within the Android ecosystem.”

Mr Barra expressed his sentiments via social network Google+.

“After nearly five and a half years at Google and almost three years as a member of the Android team – the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with in my life – I have decided to start a new career chapter,” he wrote.

“In a few weeks, I’ll be joining the Xiaomi team in China to help them expand their incredible product portfolio and business globally — as vice president, Xiaomi Global.”

Xiaomi, based in Beijing, produces smartphones and other consumer electronics. Although it has seen huge growth since the release of its first handset in 2011, critics have accused the company of lacking innovation and stealing ideas from competitors. Perhaps one of Mr Barra’s tasks will be to win over these critics and increase the company’s value which is currently $10bn.

[Image via Herald Business]

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23879496