The president of Xiaomi India, Muralikrishnan B, has stepped down from his role at the prominent smartphone manufacturer as the company aims to reclaim its status as the leading brand in the Indian smartphone sector. Sources close to the situation reveal that Muralikrishnan has decided to leave in order to pursue a doctorate at the Indian School of Business, marking a new chapter in his academic journey. Following his resignation, he will take a six-month gardening leave.


His exit comes on the heels of the recent appointment of Sudhin Mathur, the former managing director of Motorola and Lenovo, as the company’s chief operating officer just two months prior. Mathur is tasked with steering Xiaomi’s strategic direction, developing a comprehensive growth plan, and maintaining the current momentum of the brand.


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In the wake of these changes, Alvin Tse, who became the general manager of Xiaomi's India operations in 2022, has been overseeing the company's activities in India from China. This transition in leadership signals a pivotal moment for Xiaomi as it seeks to navigate the competitive landscape and regain its market leadership.


An official announcement on this matter is expected to arrive on Tuesday.


Tough Time For Xiaomi?


His departure coincides with heightened scrutiny from government authorities over alleged violations related to foreign exchange. While the company maintains its innocence regarding these claims, the issue is currently being litigated in court. Xiaomi, which had held the top spot in the smartphone market for 20 consecutive quarters, fell to second place in the fourth quarter of 2022 amid fierce competition from Samsung and other BBK Group brands, including Oppo, Vivo, and Realme.


Despite facing challenges in India, including a slowdown in growth and tensions with government entities, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has managed to reclaim the second position in terms of units shipped for the July to September quarter, as reported by Counterpoint Research. The company saw a 3 per cent increase in shipments compared to the previous year, attributed to its effective strategy that balances both online and offline retail channels.


Nevertheless, Xiaomi's sub-brand, Poco, is embroiled in a controversy with offline retailers who accuse the brand of engaging in anti-competitive practices that allegedly lead to financial losses for those retailers and the government.