Manu Sharma, the key figure behind smartphone startup Nothing’s foray into the Indian market, has announced his resignation from the position of General Manager and Vice President. Sharma, who has been leading Nothing’s India operations since February 2021, will conclude his tenure on January 20, 2024.
In a LinkedIn post on Thursday (14 December), Sharma expressed his excitement for the adventures that await him, stating, “The last 3 years have been very eventful and memorable. This has been the most fortunate & incredible time of my life to build the foundation of the Nothing brand in India from ground zero.” He attributed his decision to personal reasons after intensive deliberation.
Nothing, a London-based tech company founded by former OnePlus cofounder Carl Pei, enlisted Sharma to establish and drive the growth of Nothing’s presence in the Indian market. During his tenure, Sharma meticulously crafted the India strategy, built the business from scratch, and forged crucial partnerships both online and offline. He played a pivotal role in recruiting cross-functional teams, implementing processes, systems, and offering strategic advice for brand growth in India.
Sharma, boasting over two decades of experience, had previously worked with industry giants such as Samsung Electronics and HP.
Nothing, competing in the highly competitive smartphone market against industry giants like Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus, announced its entry into India in 2021 in partnership with the homegrown ecommerce marketplace Flipkart.
The news of Sharma’s departure comes at a time when smartphone shipments in India reported stagnation in Q3 2023, according to Counterpoint Research. Despite the overall flat growth, Apple achieved its highest-ever quarterly shipments, experiencing a notable 34% year-over-year (YoY) growth. The 5G smartphone shipments constituted 53% of the market, driven by OEMs launching multiple devices in the INR 10,000 to INR 15,000 ($120-$180) segment. Samsung retained its position as the market leader, holding a 17.2% share, while Apple marked a high-growth phase in the Indian market.
As Manu Sharma bids farewell, Nothing India will be navigating its next phase in a dynamic and competitive landscape.
