So far, India has not been a separate sales region for Apple – although it is the second largest country in the world in terms of people. But that should change now. After a staff restructuring, Apple decided to make the subcontinent its own sales area – like the USA, China or Europe. This is reported by the financial news agency Bloomberg.
India has growth potential
The decision is made with a management change in the sales department of the iPhone manufacturer together. Hugues Asseman, previously responsible for India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Africa, has retired. Ashish Chowdhary, previously responsible for India but in Asseman’s group, is now to become a new sales vice president for the Republic of India only. He reports directly to Apple’s hardware sales manager (Head of Product Sales) Michael Fenger.
CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly emphasized that India is becoming increasingly important for Apple. Visits to the country focused on building manufacturing infrastructure to complement and partially replace China, as well as Apple sales to the country’s fast-growing middle class. In fact, the group recently managed to post record sales on the subcontinent, while overall business in the Christmas quarter had shrunk due to supply problems in profit and sales.
China as a growth model
Apple’s most recent analyst conference in February said the company is taking what it learned in China years ago and applying it to the new market. “We value him very much,” Cook said. This includes, among other things, setting up an Apple retail chain in the country, increased marketing measures and adjustments to the range of services. While India was previously seen as a market in which older models in particular were selling well, Apple has long believed that iPhone 14 Pro & Co. can also be placed. All of this is very reminiscent of what happened in China.
Asseman’s departure after more than 20 years has enabled Apple to tweak its sales structure. The manager has worked in London and Cupertino, initially as marketing manager for Mac and iPod, later as iPhone sales manager in Europe and other international markets. He took on his most recent role in 2015, writes Bloomberg.
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