IBNS: iPhone maker Apple is focussing on India as its priority region amid a significant increase in demand for Apple products in the country. The plans include the elevation of its head of India and making the country sales engine for Apple, media reports said.
The firm is reorganising the management of its international operations, demonstrating the increasing significance of India.
Bloomberg reported citing sources that Apple is planning to make India its own sales region for the first time. This move will reportedly elevate the importance of India within the company.
Following the superannuation of Hugues Asseman, the vice president in charge of India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, East Europe, and Africa, Apple has decided to make changes in its hierarchy, the report said.
As a result, Ashish Chowdhary, who was previously reporting to Asseman as the head of India, will now be promoted and report directly to Michael Fenger, Apple’s head of product sales.
This decision was made as a replacement for Asseman and will likely lead to a shift in the way Apple handles its sales operations in India.
This comes amid record revenue in India last quarter, even as its total sales slipped 5%, the report said.
During the last earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted the company’s focus on the Indian market.
He emphasised that Apple is investing significant effort and resources in India, and compared the current state of the company’s operations in India to its early years in China, indicating that Apple sees great potential for growth in the Indian market.
Apple’s sales in China currently amount to approximately $75 billion annually, making it the company’s largest sales region after the Americas and Europe. This indicates the significance of the Chinese market for Apple, as it contributes significantly to the company’s overall revenue.
Apart from being a crucial sales region, India is also becoming increasingly important for Apple’s product development.
The company’s key suppliers are relocating to India, and Apple is collaborating with its manufacturing partner, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, to establish new iPhone production plants in the country, as per a Bloomberg News report.
This suggests that India’s significance for Apple is not limited to sales but extends to manufacturing and supply chain operations as well.
