Jon French, a former HTC Executive Director is joining Microsoft Devices as the head of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
French was the VP for HTC’s Sales and Operations in the EMEA region from March 2011 until in 2012 when he was promoted to head the entire MEA region based in Dubai. He left HTC at the end of last year to join Beats, the company co-founded by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine that Apple recently bought in a $3 billion deal.
Microsoft quotes French’s 17 year industry experience in various high profile sales roles at companies like Nokia, Samsung and later on HTC as part of the expertise he brings on board. He has previously worked at Nokia UK before moving to Samsung Electronics UK where he rose through the ranks as Global Account Manager then Head of Sales and eventually the General Manager in 2007. He is credited with being the force behind Samsung’s emergence as the number one device maker in the UK mobile market for the first time ever in 2008.
He’s expected to spearhead Microsoft Device’s onslaught into various markets in the MEA region as the company seeks to further promote its budget Nokia X devices and the wider Lumia range of smartphones. He’ll still be based in Dubai under his new role.
