In a significant move that could shake up the Indian smartphone industry, Himanshu Tandon, the face behind POCO India’s rapid growth in recent years, has resigned from his role. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that Tandon is all set to join London-based smartphone disruptor Nothing in August 2025, where he will lead its CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) division.
This marks the second major leadership exit from Xiaomi India in less than a year, following the departure of Muralikrishnan B, the company’s former president, in November 2024. Tandon, one of the founding members of POCO, had taken charge of the brand’s India operations in 2022 and is credited with rejuvenating its position in the ultra-competitive market.
🧠 The Brains Behind POCO’s Rise
When Himanshu Tandon took over POCO India in 2022, the brand was fighting for relevance amid stiff competition from Realme, Vivo, and Samsung. Tandon spearheaded a Gen Z-focused strategy, emphasizing bold designs, performance-packed devices, and gaming features that resonated strongly with younger buyers.
Under his leadership, POCO transitioned from an online-centric brand to a major offline player, striking partnerships with giants like Reliance Retail. This multi-channel strategy helped POCO become one of the fastest-growing smartphone brands in India, even as its parent company Xiaomi struggled.
📊 POCO’s Performance Amid Xiaomi’s Decline
Despite Xiaomi’s overall shrinking footprint in the Indian market, POCO has been a rare bright spot. According to data from Canalys, POCO accounted for 41% of Xiaomi’s total India shipments in Q2 2025 — a significant jump from 30% in the same period the previous year. POCO shipped 2.03 million units during the quarter, up from 1.5 million in Q1.
In contrast, Xiaomi’s total shipments, including POCO, dropped 25% year-over-year to just 5 million units. The company’s market share in India also declined sharply, slipping from 18% to 13%, marking the steepest fall among top smartphone brands.
🔍 Why Tandon’s Exit Is a Game Changer
Tandon’s departure is more than just a leadership shuffle — it reflects broader challenges and transformations within Xiaomi India. The company is currently undergoing a strategic shift towards premiumization, aiming to pivot away from its budget roots and focus on higher-margin, value-driven devices.
While the Redmi series — Xiaomi’s mainstream lineup — continues to underperform, POCO has been holding the fort, attracting new-age consumers through stylish, gaming-focused devices. Tandon’s role in crafting this turnaround story cannot be overstated.
His exit at such a critical juncture poses serious questions about Xiaomi India’s ability to sustain POCO’s growth momentum.
🚀 All Eyes on Nothing: Tandon’s Next Chapter
Tandon is expected to join Nothing, the UK-based consumer tech brand founded by Carl Pei, which has been aggressively scaling its Indian operations. According to insider reports, he will take the reins at CMF by Nothing, a sub-brand focused on delivering design-forward, affordable tech products such as smartphones, earbuds, and accessories.
This aligns perfectly with Tandon’s skill set and past success with design-first, youth-centric product strategies.
🔧 What is CMF by Nothing?
The CMF division focuses on creating affordable yet uniquely designed tech products for value-conscious consumers who don’t want to compromise on aesthetics. The CMF Phone 2 Pro and other accessories have seen massive adoption in India, contributing to Nothing’s 229% YoY growth in Q2 2025, per company data.
Notably, Nothing has also shifted its global marketing operations to India, signaling the country’s central role in the brand’s global roadmap.
🗣️ Industry Experts Weigh In
Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Canalys, noted:
“Redmi has been struggling in offline retail due to a lack of innovation. In contrast, POCO’s strong online presence and retail partnerships with Reliance have helped scale volumes significantly.”
He also highlighted that POCO’s appeal to Gen Z users — thanks to its unique design language and performance-focused features — played a big role in Xiaomi retaining some market relevance in recent quarters.
Tandon’s move to Nothing could replicate this success in a new-age tech ecosystem, especially as CMF tries to capture the mid-range market with a mix of affordability, aesthetics, and innovation.
📉 What’s Next for Xiaomi and POCO?
With Himanshu Tandon’s exit, Xiaomi will need to urgently find a leader who can continue POCO’s upward trajectory. The brand’s recent success has been instrumental in offsetting Xiaomi’s declining volumes, and any misstep in leadership could be costly.
Xiaomi’s new India strategy hinges on:
- Transitioning Redmi to more premium, offline-focused models
- Strengthening POCO’s Gen Z appeal
- Driving profitability through innovation rather than volume
Whether the company can pull this off without Tandon’s strategic direction remains to be seen.
🧭 Final Thoughts: A Power Move in the Making?
Himanshu Tandon’s switch from Xiaomi’s POCO to Nothing’s CMF isn’t just a career move — it’s a symbol of shifting tides in the Indian smartphone market. With Xiaomi facing headwinds and Nothing gaining serious momentum, this leadership change could accelerate Nothing’s rise while posing new challenges for POCO.
As the battle for India’s mid-range smartphone market intensifies, this move could go down as a defining moment in the tech industry.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- POCO India head Himanshu Tandon has resigned, likely to join Nothing’s CMF division in August 2025.
- Tandon played a crucial role in reviving POCO’s brand image and sales, especially among Gen Z buyers.
- POCO now accounts for 41% of Xiaomi’s shipments in India, while Xiaomi’s total market share has declined to 13%.
- Tandon’s move aligns with Nothing’s growing ambitions in India, including its 229% YoY growth in Q2 2025.
- Xiaomi faces a leadership vacuum and brand identity challenge in the wake of this high-profile departure.
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