HTC’s management team has been shaken again this week as their VP of Industrial Design, Jonah Becker, has announced he is departing from the company. Becker took over from his predecessor Scott Croyle less than a year ago as the lead designer for the company. Those two, along with Claude Zellweger, were principals with One & Co, a design firm that HTC acquired back in 2008. Zellweger will continue to work on connected products for HTC’s line, but a statement from the company says Creative Director Daniel Hundt will be taking over Becker’s role and will focus on the company’s smartphones.
According to some sources, there is a growing struggle within HTC between the design team and the sales team. This could be the reason HTC has seen two lead designers leave the company now within the space of a year.
HTC issued the following statement concerning Becker’s departure:
We can confirm that Jonah Becker has left HTC; he had been with the Company since HTC acquired One & Co over six years ago. We would like to thank Jonah for his work with HTC, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He has been succeeded by Daniel Hundt, based in our San Francisco design office.
Becker’s move comes only one week after Peter Chou moved on from his role as CEO to lead the new Future Development Lab. In his place, chairwoman Cher Wang took over as CEO. Thus far there is no indication that Becker’s decision was directly related to that change in leadership.
It's been an amazing seventeen year journey with One & Co and HTC, but it's time for a new adventure. Stay tuned for details of what's next.
— Jonah Becker (@JonahABecker) March 26, 2015
source: @JonahABecker
via: Engadget
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