Hugo Barra, VP of Product Management for Android, is leaving his post at Google and heading to Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi. This news was first reported by AllThingsD, then later confirmed by Google.
Xiaomi is considered to be the “Apple of China” and makes mobile devices that run off the Android platform, so Barra won’t be completely distant from the OS he helped enthusiastically build. There’s no word yet on what the specific role Barra will play at Xiaomi.
A Google spokesperson stated that “We wish Hugo Barra the best. We’ll miss him at Google and we’re excited that he is staying within the Android ecosystem.” Barra has been with Google since March of 2008. That’s a big position Google has to fill.
“A new Android chapter”
Update: Barra has taken to Google+ and announced his departure, plus confirmed his role as Vice President, Xiaomi Global. Barra noted that working at Google was an “amazing ride,” especially working with Andy Rubin, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Sundar Pichai and Vic Gundotra/
[source] AllThingsD [/source] [via] Google+ [/via]
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