HTC said to hire former Samsung US mobile marketing chief
HTC's hiring of Golden comes amid three straight quarters of operating losses and continued declines in sales and market share.
Taipei: HTC Corp. hired the former head of marketing at Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd’s US mobile phone business as an adviser to chairperson Cher Wang, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Paul Golden has been recruited as a contractor at the Taiwanese smartphone maker within the past few weeks and reports directly to Wang, the people said, asking not to be identified because the situation is confidential.
HTC’s hiring of Golden comes amid three straight quarters of operating losses and continued declines in sales and market share. The Taoyuan, Taiwan-based company last month unveiled its One M8 handset and hired actor Gary Oldman to feature in TV commercials to promote the product, with Wang pledging to improve sales through better marketing.
“We just have to communicate well with our customers," Wang said in an interview at HTC’s Taipei headquarters on 8 April. “I believe if we can communicate better, we will do better."
HTC added 0.3% to NT$157.50 at the close of trade in Taipei. The stock has added 12% this year compared with a 4.1% advance in Taiwan’s benchmark Taiex index.
HTC continues to invest in talent and recruitment as part of our broader human resources strategy, the company said in an emailed response to Bloomberg on Friday, without commenting on Golden.
Golden worked for Samsung from 2008 to 2012 during which time he created and launched the highly successful Galaxy brand for Samsung, according to his account on LinkedIn Corp.’s website.
His long-term role at HTC hasn’t been finalized with Golden initially hired on a three-month contract that’s included attendance at meetings since this month, the people said.
Golden’s current employer is listed as Brand Slam, a marketing consultancy, and he has previously worked for companies including Qwest Communications, according to LinkedIn. Bloomberg
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