Xiaomi Global Vice President Hugo Barra has announced his impending departure from Xiaomi after the Chinese New Year.

Barra made the announcement via Facebook. He noted that his primary reason for leaving Xiaomi is homesickness and his plan to return to Califonia. Barra is based in Beijing and frequently traveled to the company’s essential markets including India and his home country of Brazil. 

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“What I've realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health. My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return,” Barra wrote.

Barra is a former Android executive from Google. He joined Xiaomi in 2013. Barra stated that Xiaomi Global was the “first baby” he helped to bring into the world. He added that the former Chinese start-up is now in a very good place with impressive growth that gave it a $45 billion valuation two years ago.

Being the vice president of Xiaomi’s global division, he helped Xiaomi to expand internationally. Compared to its competitors, Xiaomi made an early decision to expand beyond China’s borders, targeting markets such as India, Myanmar, and Brazil. The company is a huge success in India, claiming that 18 percent of the company’s total phone shipments in the third quarter were from the India.

Xiaomi co-founder Bin Lin said that the company’s Senior Vice President Xiang Wang would overlook its global expansion efforts for 2017 onwards. He said he is confident that Xiang's leadership would take Xiaomi's global business to greater heights. 

TagsHugo Barra, Xiaomi, Silicon Valley, Xiaomi expansion, china, India, Vice President Xiaomi, Xiang Wang, Bin Lin