Chinese handset maker Oppo on Monday appointed Charles Wong as its new India president to drive growth and to better compete with Xiaomi, which is the market leader. The company said that Wong will be responsible for steering its expansion in India and achieve "the company’s vision to be a leader in the market."

Wong will report to Alen Wu, who has been now appointed as the vice president of global operations, aimed at expediting its international business and cultivating young talents.

Oppo has lost significant market share in the last one year to Xiaomi and Huawei in India. It had 5.6% smartphone share in the first quarter of 2018, down from 9.9% share during a year earlier period.

The Chinese handset brand recently came up with its new online brand, Realme, and is adopting “India-first approach” in a bid to garner a lion’s share in the country’s online channel, having inked an exclusive partnership with online marketplace Amazon. Under the strategy, the latest brand will launch all new devices in India first before introducing it to any other global market.

Wong has nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales. "His vision and skills will be responsible for steering OPPO’s expansion in India and achieve the company’s vision to be a leader in the market," the company said in a statement.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of the Oppo India team at an important juncture. Having served in OPPO gives me a good insight of the business, its challenges and varied cultures. The Indian mobile market is growing exponentially and I look forward to further strengthen the brand presence in the Indian markets by providing great user experience with our products," Wong said in a statement.

“We are delighted to have Charles Wong on board with us as India's head. We are confident that he will help in propelling the business development and the growth across India market by taking the brand to new heights," Will Yang, Brand Director OPPO India said in a statement.