Smartprix reported earlier that Xiaomi India expected more top executives to leave. Now, Gizbot reports that Anuj Sharma, the CMO, is on his way out, according to people familiar with the matter. Sources say he will leave sometime in June, but his last day is still up in the air. Xiaomi India has not responded or made any official statement.
The first visible sign of this major leadership shift came during the high-profile Redmi Turbo 5 India launch event. Instead of Sharma, who is known for his charismatic presence at Xiaomi launches, Abi Go, Deputy Director of Global Marketing, took center stage, flanked by Associate Marketing Directors Ritij Khurana and Sandeep Sarma. Sharma’s notable absence was impossible to miss, further adding weight to the rumors.
ALSO READ: The Best Smartphones to Buy Under 20K If Battery Life Is Non-Negotiable
Sharma’s journey with Xiaomi India has been nothing short of eventful. He first joined the company in September 2018, when Xiaomi was dominating the Indian smartphone market. After a brief stint as POCO India’s Country Director, where he helped establish POCO as a formidable standalone brand, Sharma returned to Xiaomi in 2022 as CMO, taking the reins of brand and marketing strategy. His impressive career also includes senior leadership roles at Razer Singapore, Motorola Mobility under Lenovo, and Lenovo’s smartphone business in Bengaluru, making him one of the most recognized figures in India’s tech leadership landscape.
Sharma’s likely exit adds to a growing list of senior leaders who have left Xiaomi India since 2022, a trend that includes Chief Business Officer Raghu Reddy, Xiaomi India architect Manu Kumar Jain, President Muralikrishnan B, and most recently, country head Alvin Tse. Alexander Tang has now taken over the India business as Xiaomi sharpens its focus on online sales and digital-first strategies, but the leadership exodus has left industry watchers questioning the brand’s stability and long-term vision.
Sharma’s departure comes at a critical time for Xiaomi India. The company is making a strategic pivot from dominating budget smartphone sales to building a premium, value-driven brand image. This transition demands consistent, visionary marketing to change consumer perception and win in a fiercely competitive market. Without Sharma at the helm, Xiaomi’s brand repositioning faces new risks and challenges. Industry experts believe the company must act quickly, either by promoting internal talent or recruiting a seasoned marketing leader, to steer the brand through this transformation and maintain its relevance in 2024 and beyond.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
