Zhao Xichu - outgoing Huawei Australia CEO
The cycle continues at Huawei Australia, with the company’s local chief stepping out of the top job to make way for new blood.
The Chinese tech company announced on 20 March that Meng Xiaojie had joined Huawei Australia as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Meng replaces outgoing CEO, Zhao Xichu, in the local leadership shuffle, which is part of Huawei’s global practice of rotating senior executives across different countries in a bid to drive innovation and performance in the local market.
According to Huawei Australia Chairman, John Lord, the company’s local board of directors considers Meng a solid leader who could continue to drive performance in the competitive and dynamic Australian market.
“I welcome Mr Meng to the new role, and express my gratitude to our outgoing CEO, Mr Zhao Xichu, who drove Huawei’s impressive growth in the local market over the last three years.” Huawei Australia Chairman, Mr John Lord.
Under Zhao’s leadership, Huawei Australia’s sales revenue has risen to AU $674 million, with an average annual growth rate of 19 per cent, according to the company.
The company also opened its first National Training and Innovation Centre in 2015, grew its Seeds for the Future program for undergraduate students and launched its NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB-IoT) laboratory at James Cook University in Cairns with Zhao at the helm.
Meanwhile, the company’s new local lead, Meng, comes with over a decade’s experience working within Huawei, coupled with a wealth of global experience working across the European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Meng first began his tenure at Huawei in 2005 as a sales engineer. He later joined joined Huawei Egypt as an account manager, where he dealt with Vodafone Egypt. In 2011 he was promoted to a global position as global sales account director for Vodafone.
Now, in his new role, Meng is hoping to continue the company’s 4.5G, 5G and NB-IoT work in the local market.
“I am really excited to take on the CEO role in Australia,” Meng said. “Australia is a very competitive market, but has strong growth opportunities for us in the carrier and enterprise sectors.
“We will help the local telecommunication market to become more efficient, cost effective and create innovative solutions for telecom operators.
“Australia has a leadership potential in the field of IoT technology, and we know that NB-IoT will be the main game, if not the only game for IoT going forward,” he said.
At the same time, however, Meng said that Huawei still needs to continue to raise its brand awareness in the local market.
