Carl Pei, the co-founder of smartphone manufacturer OnePlus, has apparently stepped down and left the company. This information first came to light via a OnePlus subreddit, and while the change has not been confirmed by the company yet, other outlets have since added further confirmation. The news of Pei leaving OnePlus came through just ahead of the company's recent OnePlus 8T launch.
OnePlus was founded by Pei and Pete Lau in 2013. In addition to smartphones like the OnePlus 8 series, the company also offers wireless earphones, chargers and other accessories, and even smart TVs. At first, OnePlus phones were only available by invitation, which meant customers had to sign up for the option to receive a phone. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the company's brand ambassadors, starring in various promotional materials and commercials. Its parent company, BBK Electronics, also owns OPPO, Vivo, and Realme.
According to u/JonSigur on Reddit, two internal notices to employees, which were posted as screenshots in the subreddit, didn’t include Pei’s name under the leadership heading, and he wasn’t listed as the head of the Nord product line. Since then, TechCrunch has also reported that Pei has left the company, citing two sources who are allegedly up to date on the event. OnePlus has not confirmed whether or not Pei is leaving the company, and one of the sources did explain to TechCrunch that Pei is already working on a new venture.
It’s important to remember that Pei leaving the company hasn’t currently been confirmed by OnePlus or by Pei himself. So any speculation on Pei’s future is just that -- speculation. According to the nameless sources, Pei is already working on something new, but that could mean a lot of different things. It could be a new smartphone company, or it could be something entirely different.
As for OnePlus itself, Pei was one of the main faces of the company, and often the person giving the interviews, appearing at trade conferences, and hosting presentations. If Pei has left, then much of that will need to be taken on by another face, alongside Pete Lau. According to the images posted on Reddit, the head of the Nord product line is apparently Emily Dai, who is the company's current head in India. If OnePlus can continue to appeal to buyers, with high-end phones at lower than usual prices, then it might not matter who eventually becomes one of the newer faces of OnePlus.
Source: u/JonSigur/Reddit, TechCrunch
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