Himanshu Tandon, who has been serving as Head of Poco India, has stepped down from his position, sources told MoneyControl. He has been one of the founding team members of Poco and even served as India head since 2022. He helped the sub-brand to come out with a distinct identity under the Xiaomi umbrella, especially during a phase when the parent company’s overall smartphone numbers were dipping.
While Xiaomi has been shifting focus towards premium phones, Poco remained one of its strongest performers, which accounts for over 40% of Xiaomi’s India shipments in Q2 2025.
Moving to CMF by Nothing?
As per the report, some sources suggest that Tandon will be joining Nothing to head its sub-brand CMF in India starting in August. It must be noted that Nothing has been ramping up its India focus lately. Relocating global marketing operations to India and pushing aggressively in the value design segment through CMF are clear signs.
Tandon’s switch is expected to help CMF by Nothing to grow in India. With CMF gaining traction after the CMF Phone 1 and recent launches like the Phone 2 Pro, the timing seems right. Nothing recorded over 200% year-on-year growth in Q2, driven by CMF’s performance. The report adds that Tandon understands Indian buyers, distribution networks, and how to build brand loyalty with minimal spending.
However, it must be noted that there is no official word so far from CMF or its chief Carl Pei, regarding the onboarding of Himanshu Tandon. Hence, we must wait for the official announcement.
What It Means For Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s smartphone shipments in India dropped 25% year-on-year in Q2, and its flagship Redmi series has been struggling. Tandon’s exit could make it harder for Xiaomi to hold onto that momentum. Meanwhile, CMF’s gain could set the stage for fresh competition in the budget and mid-range segment, especially as Indian consumers look for affordable phones with premium design and solid specs.
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