Honor Reshapes Leadership with Youthful Talent, Boosts AI Focus
Chinese smartphone maker Honor has undertaken a significant organizational shakeup, adjusting leadership across 38 key positions in its regional operations. The restructuring forms part of the company's "Eagle Plan" transformation initiative, which saw nearly half (45%) of position leaders changed through an open competition process.
Youth Takes the Helm The most striking change comes in generational representation - employees born in the 1990s now occupy nearly a quarter (24%) of leadership roles. The youngest promoted manager is just 27 years old. Honor broadcasted the entire selection process internally, reinforcing its meritocratic philosophy where "the competent take the lead."
AI Gets Institutional Backing Simultaneously, Honor has established new structural supports for its artificial intelligence ambitions. The company created:
- A dedicated AI and software R&D department
- New business model expansion teams
- Specialized new industry incubation units These changes operationalize Honor's previously announced $1 billion commitment to building an AI terminal ecosystem over five years.
CEO Drives Transformation Since taking office in January 2025, CEO Li Jian has championed radical openness - urging collaboration with internet firms, AI specialists, and global supply chains. Insiders describe his leadership style as "practical" yet forceful, with these organizational changes representing tangible implementation of his vision.
Market Challenges Persist The restructuring comes amid mixed market performance. While Honor captured 15% of China's mobile market in 2024 (ranking fifth), recent BCI data shows signs of recovery - briefly returning to China's top three smartphone sellers in April 2025. Overseas markets tell a brighter story: international sales now exceed 50% of total revenue, with African market share growing an astonishing 283% year-over-year last quarter.
As Honor bets big on both youthful leadership and AI innovation, industry watchers will be watching closely to see if this dual transformation can reignite growth across all markets.
Key Points
- Honor restructured 38 leadership roles through open competition, with 45% turnover
- Employees born in the 1990s now hold nearly one-quarter of key positions
- New AI-focused departments created to support $1 billion ecosystem investment
- Overseas sales surpass 50% of total revenue with strong African growth
- Company briefly regained top-three position in China smartphone market this April
