HTC Appoints Cher Wang as New CEO, Reassigns Peter Chou to Product Innovation

HTC announced a big change this morning, as its Board of Directors has named Cher Wang, Chairman and co-founder of the company, as its new CEO, effective immediately. 

Cher was on stage during the One M9 unveiling, and she spoke briefly about the impact HTC is having on the wireless industry. She dreams big, and has been voted one of the most, if not the most powerful woman in wireless.

As for long-time CEO Peter Chou, he is to head up the new HTC Future Development Lab, which will focus on product development. As stated in the press release, “In his new executive role as Head of HTC Future Development Lab, Mr. Chou will be instrumental in identifying future growth opportunities for the Company.”

Wang also gave a statement in the press release about focusing on recognizing the rapid changes in the wireless industry, the importance of connected technologies such as Vive (HTC’s VR headset), and that she is excited about the opportunity.

With this latest move, 2015 should be one interesting year for HTC.

Do you think this was a good play? Let us know down below.

HTC APPOINTS CHER WANG AS CEO

Peter Chou to head up new HTC Future Development Lab

Taipei, March 20, 2015 – The Board of Directors of HTC Corporation (TWSE 2498) has named Cher Wang, Chairman and co-founder of HTC, as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Peter Chou will transition to a strategic new role leading future product innovation.

“We are seeing rapid changes in the industry, with the smartphone as our personal hub connecting us to a growing world of smart devices. We pioneered the smartphone industry; now we are applying that thinking to realize the potential of a new generation of connected products and services. The overwhelming response that our virtual reality product, HTC Vive, received earlier this month underlines the importance of these new connected technologies for our future,” said Cher Wang, Chairman and CEO, HTC. “As an entrepreneur at heart, I am excited to see so many new opportunities, and I am honoured to accept this opportunity to help shape the next stage of HTC’s development.”

Over the last two years, Ms. Wang had been increasingly involved in the running of various aspects of the business, to allow Mr. Chou to focus on product development, a role in which he has demonstrated world-class design and cutting-edge technology expertise. The Board of Directors and executive team agreed that it was now appropriate to formalize that progression and make the organizational changes necessary to enable HTC to proceed to the next stage of its development.

In his time as CEO, Peter Chou oversaw the successful transition of HTC from a handheld device ODM to a global branded company. In his new executive role as Head of HTC Future Development Lab, Mr. Chou will be instrumental in identifying future growth opportunities for the Company.

About Cher Wang, Chairman and CEO

Cher Wang has an enviable track record in the electronics industry. Her strategic insight into technology trends and entrepreneurship has enabled her to establish a number of highly successful IT-related businesses.

In 1997, Ms. Wang co-founded HTC Corp. to make the convergence of mobile computing and communications a reality through the development of innovative smartphones. This vision has translated into a multi-billion dollar global company that has consistently been first to market with new technologies, including new wireless generations and the touch interface, and devices for Microsoft® Windows Mobile and Android operating systems.

Last year, Ms. Wang was named of the 25 people CNBC judged to have had the most profound impact on business and finance since 1989.  In 2011, Ms. Wang was named ‘the most powerful woman in wireless’ by Forbes and one of the most influential women by Fast Company, and she has been ranked on Fortune’s annual ‘most powerful women’ list continuously since 2012. She was also awarded ‘Person of the Year’ by CCTV in China. Ms. Wang graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and is married with two children.

IMAGE