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US Forces Smartphone Giant ZTE To Fire Its CEO, Leadership Team (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Chinese smartphone giant ZTE has completely replaced its corporate leadership, naming new people to be CEO, CTO, CFO, and several vice presidents. The new CEO of ZTE will be Xu Ziyang, a former head of ZTE's German operations who has worked at the company for two decades. The move comes a week after ZTE named a new board of directors. The U.S. government demanded that ZTE make these changes as a condition of lifting a crippling export ban against the company.

41 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Complete leadership change by olsmeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    CEO becomes CTO, CTO -> CFO, CFO -> CEO.

    Trump Administration: OK, you're good!

    1. Re:Complete leadership change by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Insightful

      CEO, CTO, CFO, GTFO...

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Complete leadership change by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      There's a part of me that's always skeptical of things like this. For all we know, this was done as part of a favor for someone in the Chinese government in exchange for something else in return, like support for our position against North Korea.

    3. Re:Complete leadership change by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2

      CEO becomes CTO, CTO -> CFO, CFO -> CEO.

      . . . and in a further surprising and shocking announcement . . . the new CEO will be . . .

      . . . Kim Dotcom!

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    4. Re:Complete leadership change by Enigma2175 · · Score: 1

      You're "skeptical"? Why just skeptical? Trump basically said it was a favor for Xi and how worried he was about Chinese losing jobs:

      President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!
      - Donald Trump

      --

      Enigma

    5. Re:Complete leadership change by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      Perhaps I didn't clarify what I meant. I meant to say that I was skeptical of the U.S. government doing this for reasons that are purely above board and that I do suspect there are ulterior motives in play.

      Also, why would you believe Trump when he says that unless you mostly take him at face value? I wouldn't put much stock in anything he says as what he says seems to change every 10 minutes. I don't treat things which he says that confirm to my beliefs any different than anything else he says anymore.

    6. Re: Complete leadership change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yes of course this was done as part of some international power play exchange. So what?

      If the leadership of some random Chinese business is forced out by Trump in exchange for China being useful with something that is actually important like freeing millions of North Koreans from a brutal psychopathic dictator then I say Go Trump!

    7. Re:Complete leadership change by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2

      There's a part of me that's always skeptical of things like this. For all we know, this was done as part of a favor for someone in the Chinese government in exchange for something else in return, like support for our position against North Korea.

      No no, it has to be about Trump's daughter!

      Because cool "progressives"!

    8. Re:Complete leadership change by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      What does ANY of this rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic have to do with backdoors on router/switches, the alleged cause of the ban?

    9. Re:Complete leadership change by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Holy crap I try to make one stupid joke about acronyms and the whole sub-thread derails into a fight between APK and trolls.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  2. Why is the government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why is the government getting directly involved with specific businesses?

    1. Re:Why is the government by willaien · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, this company did specifically break various embargoes on trading with countries like Iran.

      As for why we're specifically doing business with ZTE and agreeing to import their stuff again, that might have something to do with the patents that were issued at the same time for Ivanka's products. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/0...

    2. Re:Why is the government by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 5, Insightful

      1. U.S.A. government demand, backed by crippling export ban
      2. China government wants crippling export ban removed
      3. China government controls Chinese companies, unlike the U.S.A. where companies control the government

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    3. Re:Why is the government by willaien · · Score: 1

      Err, Trademarks, not patents.

    4. Re:Why is the government by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The "National Security" Loophole in our legal system.
      I am less annoyed with Trump, but the Republican "Leadership" who is looking the other way and explaining away why all good points of the Republican Ideal is systematically being destroyed.

      I use to be a Republican, however the party in the past 18 years had slowly empowered the worst in their party, and discredited the moderate voices in the party as not being conservative enough, or American enough.

      I am all for Lower Taxes, Religious Liberties, Open Trade, and reasonable regulations.
      I am not for Lowering Taxes without finding a way to pay for needed services.
      I am not for allowing for people of different faiths or none to be openly discriminated against, or bullied into thinking they are in the wrong.
      I am not for Trading harmful goods, or allowing trading partners to play by a different sets of rules.
      I am not for just getting rid of regulations because they are there and may be hard to follow.

      The debate has moved from logical reasons for taking policy, to attacking ways of life, that we as Americans should feel feel to follow whatever way of life we feel that we should follow.

      I used to be a Republican, I didn't leave the party, the party rejected me and left me on my own. In the two party system right now the Democrats, are no more centrist then the Republicans are. However they are more rational on views. And currently voting for a Democrat means more likly I am going to vote for someone who would be willing to put the greater good in front of their own ego.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:Why is the government by Notabadguy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The "National Security" Loophole in our legal system.
      I am less annoyed with Trump, but the Republican "Leadership" who is looking the other way and explaining away why all good points of the Republican Ideal is systematically being destroyed.

      I use to be a Republican, however the party in the past 18 years had slowly empowered the worst in their party, and discredited the moderate voices in the party as not being conservative enough, or American enough.

      I am all for Lower Taxes, Religious Liberties, Open Trade, and reasonable regulations.
      I am not for Lowering Taxes without finding a way to pay for needed services.
      I am not for allowing for people of different faiths or none to be openly discriminated against, or bullied into thinking they are in the wrong.
      I am not for Trading harmful goods, or allowing trading partners to play by a different sets of rules.
      I am not for just getting rid of regulations because they are there and may be hard to follow.

      The debate has moved from logical reasons for taking policy, to attacking ways of life, that we as Americans should feel feel to follow whatever way of life we feel that we should follow.

      I used to be a Republican, I didn't leave the party, the party rejected me and left me on my own. In the two party system right now the Democrats, are no more centrist then the Republicans are. However they are more rational on views. And currently voting for a Democrat means more likly I am going to vote for someone who would be willing to put the greater good in front of their own ego.

      All the things you describe make you a Libertarian.

    6. Re:Why is the government by jellomizer · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      In a two party system, the Libertarian falls in the Republican Umbrella.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    7. Re: Why is the government by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Open Trade

      As a freethinker with a strong libertarian streak, I've always believed that open trade would be great; too bad China and the E.U. will never agree.

    8. Re: Why is the government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Troll. None of the things you claim to profess have been pushed by the D since Kennedy lowered taxes in the 60s. The D of today would NEVER elect Kennedy today. You should either vote R or stay home because you are too ignorant to vote intelligently. Or as first stated, you are just a troll.

    9. Re:Why is the government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > In a two party system, the Libertarian falls in the Republican Umbrella.
      Why do you think that? Neither major party is very good on personal liberty issues. But each has a few areas where they support some liberties.

    10. Re:Why is the government by Howitzer86 · · Score: 2

      Point #3 is a distinction without a difference. In both countries, industry interests take center seat in our houses of congress.

    11. Re:Why is the government by Howitzer86 · · Score: 1

      This might sound weird coming from a Democrat, but I'll tell you: don't Jedi Mind Trick yourself into voting for something you don't agree with just because you're mad. Neither of us are really represented by any mainstream party. In our case perhaps it's best to vote for independent-minded individuals when they have a chance, and "lesser evils" when they don't. That doesn't fix anything sure, but the truth is that nothing can fix it.

      The American quality of life will continue to deteriorate with the procured leadership selection that we have. We're just stalling for time. Time is valuable. It means we can better prepare and adapt to these changes. Maybe you won't hit rock bottom when the country does.

    12. Re:Why is the government by sjames · · Score: 2

      Probably not since he doesn't believe in tossing regulations just because they're regulations and he believes there are needed services.

    13. Re:Why is the government by houghi · · Score: 1

      China will get into the phone market in the US. They stopped HUWEI and learned. So now they do it with the next company and learn. They have plenty of companies and plenty of people that at some point it will work.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    14. Re: Why is the government by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Do you let your political opponents define you?

      Fuck off then.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    15. Re:Why is the government by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Just find a green/libertarian buddy and vote your conscience, knowing you net each other out of the (turd sandwich/giant douche) race.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    16. Re:Why is the government by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      You don't understand how human perception works.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    17. Re:Why is the government by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Why is the government getting directly involved with specific businesses?

      China!

    18. Re:Why is the government by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      So you're neither extremely red, nor extremely blue and really have no place left in America. Consider joining us in the rest of the world where happy middle-grounds exist. :-)

    19. Re:Why is the government by tkotz · · Score: 1

      That mindset benefits Republicans, but I think the individual libertarian really has to look at which portion of the libertarian ideology they think is most important right now. Maybe legalizing marijuana seems immediately doable. Maybe someone is proposing modifying business regulations to encourage competition. Just always voting against incumbents is a great way to reduce consolidation of government power and as an off shoot cronyism.

  3. Bastiat and O'Rourke by Tokolosh · · Score: 2

    When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will. -- Frederic Bastiat

    When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. -- P. J. O'Rourke

    --
    Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
  4. Re:Well dont sell to Iran or any embargoed country by johanw · · Score: 1

    Hopefully this will serve as a lesson to make your company independent of US technology so if the US wants to enforce their wars on others again they can give it the finger.

  5. delicious fascism by js290 · · Score: 1

    How do you like them fascism?!

    --
    "Tempers are wearing thin. Let's just hope some robot doesn't kill everybody." --Bender
  6. Quid Pro Quo by sjbe · · Score: 2

    As for why we're specifically doing business with ZTE and agreeing to import their stuff again, that might have something to do with the patents that were issued at the same time for Ivanka's products.

    Trademarks, not patents. Plus you can drop the "might have something to do with" qualifier and replace it with "has a lot to do with".

  7. Re: Impersonating me AGAIN? Please, lol... apk by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Does APK use that much punctuation?

  8. Welcome to the new Kings ... by houghi · · Score: 1

    ... same as the old Kings.

    But I really like it that they called the US bluff.

    USA : "We do not buy if you do not change the leaders."
    Chine: "We can then sell in the USofA?"
    USA: (giigleling as they do not think it will come to this) "Sure!"
    China: "Done. Now what."
    USA: "Er, you now promise to not put anything spy-stuff in it?"
    Chine: "You never requested that. Too late to back out of the deal."
    USA: "Uh USA! USA! USA!"

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  9. This is like ... by PPH · · Score: 3, Informative

    ... reorganizing AT&T and expecting the new management to close down room 641A.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  10. Re:It's literally called "fascism". Not trolling. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    'Corporation and state'.

    In fascist Italy, only government sponsored and owned 'corporations' were legal. Which changes the meaning of what he said to just about the opposite of what people that cite it usually think it meant.

    There are arguments about later period Nazis, but Mussolini was a socialist to this dying day. Franco was a 'super catholic' authoritarian. Historic 'fascists' are all over the authoritarian end of the map.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  11. Window dressing... by Timothy2.0 · · Score: 1

    There's so substantive change here. You don't make a 20-year veteran of the company the CEO and expect much to be different.

  12. 500MM, Not the trademarks by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 2

    Ivanka's trademarks came through, sure. Also, the Trump Organization got a 500 million dollar "loan" from Chinese banks.

    I doubt the trademarks were anything but the wrapping paper. After all, a lot of her trademarks came through right before the first meeting POTUS and Xi had.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  13. Why save ZTE? by spinitch · · Score: 1

    The rest of the story will never be available to general public but why is saving ZTE important? There are other Chinese companies that could fill-in and absorb the ZTE assets and employees. Obviously there are very powerful Chinese behind ZTE that would like to keep it. US agreeing since they get something out of the settlement plus can keep a closer eye on the entity going forward. There is a larger conflict brewing and The trade tariff battles unfolding show limitations of WTO. Many will be economic casualties while there will also be selective winners. Unfortunately we can't all get along but should tolerate your friends when tangling with common adversaries- democracy vs anti democracy. China niced democracies to their detriment. Democracy needs to re-unite or fall.