New shake-up at HTC as designer Becker announces departure

March 27, 2015

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HTC's management team has been shaken again this week as their VP of Industrial Design, Jonah Becker, has announced he is departing from the company. Becker took over from his predecessor Scott Croyle less than a year ago as the lead designer for the company. Those two, along with Claude Zellweger, were principals with One & Co, a design firm that HTC acquired back in 2008. Zellweger will continue to work on connected products for HTC's line, but a statement from the company says Creative Director Daniel Hundt will be taking over Becker's role and will focus on the company's smartphones.

According to some sources, there is a growing struggle within HTC between the design team and the sales team. This could be the reason HTC has seen two lead designers leave the company now within the space of a year.

HTC issued the following statement concerning Becker's departure:

We can confirm that Jonah Becker has left HTC; he had been with the Company since HTC acquired One & Co over six years ago. We would like to thank Jonah for his work with HTC, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He has been succeeded by Daniel Hundt, based in our San Francisco design office.

Becker's move comes only one week after Peter Chou moved on from his role as CEO to lead the new Future Development Lab. In his place, chairwoman Cher Wang took over as CEO. Thus far there is no indication that Becker's decision was directly related to that change in leadership.

It's been an amazing seventeen year journey with One & Co and HTC, but it's time for a new adventure. Stay tuned for details of what's next.

— Jonah Becker (@JonahABecker) March 26, 2015

source: @JonahABecker
via: Engadget

Jeff Causey Author

Raised in North Carolina, Jeff Causey is a licensed CPA in North Carolina. Jeff's past Android devices include an HTC EVO, a Samsung Note II, an LG G3, and a Motorola Moto X Pure Edition along with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet 10.1. He currently uses a Samsung Galaxy S8 and (very rarely) a Nexus 7 (2013). He is also using a Verizon-branded Motorola Moto Z Play Droid supplied by his job. Jeff used to have a pair of Google Glass and a Moto 360 Sport in his stable of gadgets. Unfortunately, his kids have all drunk the Apple Kool-Aid and have i-devices. Life at home often includes demonstrations of the superiority of his Android based devices. In his free time, Jeff is active an active runner usually training for his next marathon, owns a Mazda MX-5 Miata, and plays Dungeons & Dragons. Jeff has three grown kids and a golden retriever.