Exclusive: Xiaomi India’s Muralikrishnan B Steps Down

Xiaomi’s India operations are undergoing a carefully orchestrated shift with the upcoming departure of its president, Muralikrishnan B, at the end of 2024, the company revealed in an exclusive interview with BW Businessworld with its India management team. Recognised for leading Xiaomi’s recovery after losing market share in India due to regulatory challenges and shifting consumer sentiments, Muralikrishnan was one of the few senior hires by former MD Manu Kumar Jain, who originally recruited him from Jabong.com. Since then, Muralikrishnan’s journey within Xiaomi has been one of dedication and resilience. Reflecting on his years with the company, he described his tenure as a "fairy tale" journey filled with “comedy, tragedy,” and noted, “All right, these are things that you prepare a lifetime for.”

Muralikrishnan has been pursuing a PhD at the Indian School of Business since 2022, balancing his studies with his corporate responsibilities. As he shared, “The pursuit of knowledge and… knowing that humanity’s knowledge bounties just a little bit more… it was always appealing.” His departure is largely motivated by academic goals, as he explained, “It came to a stage where… I have to dedicate a lot of time and attention to completing [my doctorate]… bridging this gap between the world of business… and the academic world.”

Xiaomi anticipated this transition by bringing in Sudhin Mathur in August 2024, an industry veteran with leadership stints at Lenovo, LG, and Sony Ericsson, where he developed their mobile strategies in India. Mathur’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer is designed to ensure continuity and bring a fresh perspective to Xiaomi’s India operations. Speaking on the transition, Mathur expressed admiration for Xiaomi’s agility, saying, “The speed of decision-making happens very, very quickly, which is very, very good.” Reuniting with Anuj Sharma, Xiaomi’s Chief Marketing Officer and a former Lenovo colleague, Mathur emphasised the company’s team-based culture, explaining, “Titles are just distinct cards we share with people… but collectively, as a think tank, we work and run the organisation.”

As Xiaomi India undergoes this leadership shift, the company is doubling down on an ambitious product strategy to cement its market position across segments. Known for his role in navigating Xiaomi India through regulatory and consumer trust challenges, Muralikrishnan will step back from his operational duties by 31 December 2024, transitioning to a strategic advisor role. Reflecting on his tenure, he said, "Having spent time with a company through its ups and more importantly some of the most challenging times make it a part of your own life… to whatever extent I can support the growth of this company, I look forward to it.”

As a strategic advisor, Muralikrishnan will offer insights into Xiaomi’s product positioning, go-to-market strategies, and customer-centric operations, leveraging his understanding of the Indian consumer landscape to guide the company's ongoing projects. "This is not a simple departure but a step towards ensuring Xiaomi continues to make a strong impact," he stated.

Xiaomi’s vision for the next decade, crafted with Muralikrishnan’s input, is firmly focused on premiumisation, ecosystem connectivity, and innovation. Globally, the company launched the Xiaomi 15 series in China with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and while these models won’t reach India until March 2025, their eventual release will be part of Xiaomi’s strategy to capture more of the premium market in India. Sharma indicated that Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica to enhance camera quality is central to its premium ambitions, saying, “The Xiaomi Leica Optical Institute will start delivering soon, ensuring we meet the expectations of high-end consumers.”

Muralikrishnan shared optimism about Xiaomi’s trajectory in India, affirming, “The key elements that can make for a successful business looking ahead into the next 10 years are definitely there.” With Mathur and Sharma leading Xiaomi’s India team, and Muralikrishnan supporting in a strategic capacity, Xiaomi India aims to further solidify its market position and continue delivering value across entry, mid-range, and premium segments.

Sahil Mohan Gupta

BW Reporters Sahil is an experienced tech and auto journalist with more than 15 years in the field. He has played a pivotal role in launching major tech platforms in India across TV, print, and web. As the Tech and Auto Editor at BW Businessworld, he covers consumer technology and automotive sectors through reviews, reports, interviews, and analyses. Readers can anticipate insightful, witty, and deeply analytical content with a focus on the end user. In his leisure time, he enjoys music, particularly stone cold blues and progressive rock from the 60s.