China's Huawei Technologies has moved the high-profile chief of its consumer business, Yu Chengdong, to a new role as chair of the unit, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
While Yu becomes chairman, He Gang, the consumer business group's chief operating officer, will take over as the unit's chief executive, the people said. The change was announced internally last week when it took effect, one said.
Yu has headed Huawei's consumer unit, which includes its smartphone business, since 2012, a period marked by rapid growth, a hit from US sanctions to the company's supply chain and more recently a rebound in sales.
Yu's role as chairman of Huawei's smart car solutions business, a unit the company has said it intends to spin off into a new company, is unchanged, the person said.
No reason was provided in Huawei's internal announcement for the change.
As CEO, Yu would be expected to take charge of business strategy, and as chairman, he would handle administrative matters, including personnel, the person said.
Yu is one of Huawei's highest-profile executives. He has spoken at major industry events and appeared with Chinese bloggers to pitch products and Huawei's innovation.
In September, Yu appeared at a Huawei product launch where supporters packed a stadium and chanted "far, far ahead," a phrase that has gone viral in China to describe Huawei's competitiveness.
