Yesterday, the tech world buzzed with news of Honor's leadership change. Zhao Ming, who helmed Honor for a decade, announced his resignation from the company's board of directors, CEO role, and other associated positions, citing personal reasons. This announcement caused quite a stir, particularly as it coincides with Honor's crucial IPO phase, stirring significant industry disruption.

For Zhao Ming personally, this marks a significant career milestone. For Honor, which has just undergone a shareholding reform, this transition also signifies a pivotal moment for embracing innovation and change.

Zhao Ming's departure from Honor signifies the conclusion of one era and the dawn of a new one, one that embraces global challenges head-on.

On a corporate level, Honor stated, "Mr. Zhao Ming has made invaluable contributions to Honor's growth and development, and the company, along with its board of directors, extends heartfelt gratitude to him." The board has decided that Mr. Li Jian will take over Zhao Ming's responsibilities, and under the guidance of the board and management team, Honor will continue to innovate, delivering exceptional products and experiences to consumers.

The New Leader: A Renowned "Tough Fighter"

Li Jian, who will succeed Zhao Ming, has maintained a relatively low profile in public appearances, making him less familiar to the industry. However, he is described as a "Huawei Tough Fighter" in news reports, underscoring his impressive background and experience.

According to media reports, Li Jian joined Huawei in 2001 and became a member of the Huawei Board of Supervisors in 2017, participating in significant reforms and strategic planning. In 2021, he joined New Honor, assuming roles such as Vice Chairman and Director, while also serving as President of the Human Resources Department and a core member of the management team for an extended period. Prior to joining Honor, Li Jian held various positions, including Representative of the Nigeria Representative Office, President of the Western Africa Region, President of the Europe Region, and President of the Americas Region.

One notable anecdote involves his time as a product manager in Nigeria. Despite sweltering temperatures reaching 40°C, he personally carried a computer and projector, visiting customers from dawn till dusk, and securing contracts worth over US$30 million within three months. Under his leadership, the team expanded the Nigerian market to US$1 billion, with over 2,000 team members, and the Nigeria Representative Office achieved top global sales performance for four consecutive years.

This achievement led to Li Jian's promotion to President of the Western Africa Region, earning him the moniker of the man who conquered the "Shangganling" (metaphor for a formidable battle). Therefore, in terms of global market expansion, Li Jian is undeniably a seasoned fighter with the capabilities, strategies, and proficiency to lead a team effectively.

Since joining Honor, Li Jian has remained at the core of management, especially in human resource management, where he has demonstrated robust abilities. With the independence of the Honor brand, the company comprises many former Huawei executives and employees. Integrating these diverse talents to foster a genuine Honor culture and build a multi-tiered talent team presents a significant challenge.

Thanks to Li Jian's prior experience as the Global Process Owner (GPO) of LTC, he has excelled in human resource management and company process development, providing crucial internal support for Honor's rapid ascent from obscurity to industry leadership.

It is evident that Li Jian's appointment as CEO to succeed Zhao Ming is based on comprehensive considerations. Amidst the current complex domestic and international challenges, his experience in global market development, internal process building, and robust human resource system construction are pivotal skills to lead Honor into new challenges. With the impetus of this leadership change, Honor, amidst significant challenges, is poised to unleash a distinctly new momentum.

Embarking on a New Journey Amidst New Challenges

My perspective on Honor's leadership change differs somewhat from that of many media professionals. As a seasoned media professional who has closely followed Honor for over a decade, I am intimately familiar with both Honor's development and Zhao Ming's journey. I also resonate with the sentiment that as times change, the historical burden one bears can be heavy, making change difficult.

For instance, if I were to transition into video production or other content creation, my fans would still associate me strongly with my past work, making it challenging to achieve a truly new breakthrough. I believe similar difficulties may arise for established companies like Honor.

In recent years, the macro and micro environments faced by the entire terminal industry have not shown signs of gradual improvement. On one hand, domestic competition has intensified, particularly with Huawei's return, exerting tremendous competitive pressure on the mobile phone industry. On the other hand, there are dual challenges posed by technological change and globalization. The AI era is reshaping technology products, but the ultimate direction remains uncertain. Under such circumstances, a wrong turn could lead even a powerful brand into the same dilemma faced by Nokia.

Moreover, the IPO presents another significant challenge for Honor, as going public signifies entering a new organizational and managerial phase. The management and operational model of a listed company may conflict sharply with the traditional Huawei model, potentially contributing to Zhao Ming's decision to step down.

Therefore, whether for the mobile phone industry or for Honor, future challenges are becoming increasingly formidable. Although the leadership change was abrupt, it is underpinned by sound rationale. As the market continuously evolves, global challenges intensify, technological shifts loom large, and the IPO looms on the horizon, continuing along the same development and operational path of the past decade may result in insufficient capacity. Bold changes necessitate not only determination but also the cooperation of all stakeholders.

From this perspective, while I am reluctant to see Zhao Ming depart, I fully understand the situation and am filled with anticipation for the changes that New Honor will soon usher in.

According to Canalys' data on smartphone shipments in China in 2024, Honor's market share in the Chinese mobile phone market for the entire year was 15%, ranking fifth. Compared to 2023, its market share declined by 1 percentage point, with an annual growth rate of -3%, indicating that development has encountered certain bottlenecks and constraints.

However, there is also good news. In terms of global development, Honor's overseas shipments have achieved breakthroughs in multiple markets, ranking among the top sales in many European and Latin American countries. In December 2024, overseas sales volume was already on par with domestic sales.

In the premium segment, Honor's foldable smartphones, from the Magic V2 to the V3, have firmly established a leading position in both domestic and global markets, even surpassing Samsung to become the top player in Western Europe, propelling Honor into the global top five in the premium market above US$600.

All of the above underscores that for Honor, opportunities and challenges indeed coexist. At this juncture, fresh perspectives and energies are needed to rejuvenate momentum, face new challenges, embark on a new journey, and launch a fresh wave of attacks and challenges.

Overall, Honor's leadership change, while unexpected, is grounded in reason. As Honor faces greater challenges and numerous opportunities in 2025, the industry and I eagerly await the answers that the new management team will ultimately provide.