Changhong Dump Sales & Marketing Boss After Parramatta Eels Deal
Mike Cacciola, the director of sales and marketing at Changhong, is set to stay on as a consultant to the Company that is looking to take on Hisense and TCL in the TV market. Last week Cacciola, who helped establish the brand in Australia, cemented a deal with Bing Lee only to be told 24 hours later that his full time services were no longer required. Cacciola, who was instrumental in securing the Parramatta deal, said Changhong was a “difficult” company to work for. “I first started with the Company in 2007, I left in 2010. They then asked me to come back to the company in the second half of 2012 as sales were not going as well as expected”. “Dealing with Chinese management who are based in China is extremely difficult. They do not understand the local market and they are reluctant to invest in the brand. The Parramatta deal was not signed until the 11th hour after months of back and forth negotiations”. According to Cacciola the sales and marketing role will be taken over by David Shen, the General Manager of Changhong’s Australian operations. “Changhong wanted results immediately and four months is not enough time to get results for a Chinese brand. We are back in discussions with Harvey Norman and I had just landed Bing Lee when the Company decided to take on the sales and marketing role themselves. My role now is to talk to new customers on their behalf”. Later this year Changhong is set to launch a low cost range of 4K TVs in what is looming as a major battle with LG, Sony, Samsung and other Chinese brands TCL and Hisense. |