Huawei hires Britain's former IT chief

HONG KONG: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's second-largest network gear maker, said it has hired a former British information chief officer as its global cyber security officer.

John Suffolk, a former chief information officer of the British government, will assume his position in Huawei from October 1, with the task of refining the company's cyber security system, Huawei said in a statement.

He will be based in the company's Shenzhen headquarters and will report directly to the company's founder and chief executive officer, Ren Zhengfei, Huawei said.

Huawei, which ranks behind Ericsson in providing telecoms equipment globally with annual revenues of 185 billion yuan ($28 billion), is also aggressively pushing into the consumer gadgets arena as a key source of revenue growth.

The company has been actively hiring foreigners, such as former government officials and industry executives, to beef up its global presence.

It has struggled with some deals, especially in the United States, where some lawmakers are wary of national security issues if U.S. companies clinch deals with Huawei, because of Ren's connections to the military as a former officer with the People's Liberation Army, analysts said.

Earlier this year, Huawei backed away from its acquisition of U.S. server technology company 3Leaf's assets, bowing to pressure from a U.S. government panel that had suggested it should divest the assets.