OnePlus has been hard to talk of as a scripted smartphone startup ever since its close ties with Oppo, Vivo and electronics giant BBK came to light, but the company’s longtime public face Carl Payne, who confirmed his departure today, has struggled to make an impact. As a marketer and brand builder, he used a combination of bold promises, real talk, and unconventional marketing campaigns to turn smartphone enthusiasts into finding good deals in a community of VP Plus fans.
In a blueprint post on the OnePlus forums, Pei says, regardless of why he does it now, “waiting to rot with my family and take some time to take some time off.” Rumors suggest he was falling out with fellow co-founder and CEO Pete LL, and / or PA quit starting his own new venture, but his memo doesn’t sound like the words of someone who quit his new job. .
Either way, it suddenly seems: Android Central And Android Police Reported that he left the company just four days ago, and OnePlus was unwilling to answer questions about where he went and why. Maybe the company didn’t want to be distracted by the new phone launched on Wednesday: the OnePlus 8T. Pei, meanwhile, led the development of OnePlus’ less expensive recent phone: the Nord.
Here is Payne’s full memo:
After almost 7 years at OnePlus, I have made the difficult decision to say goodbye.
I grew up spending a lot of time on the internet, building products and communities. I am so happy to see that the thoughts in someone’s mind can be turned into reality and affect people’s lives, and I knew this was the way for me.
The world did not need another smartphone brand in 2013. But we dreamed of doing things better and shaking things up. Better products. Built hand in hand with our users. At a more reasonable price. Fast forward to today, and when it comes to flagship smartphones there is a strong force to be considered OnePlus. And with the new Nord product line, this success will continue in the new market segment.
It’s only been 24 years since OnePlus started, that’s where I spent most of my 20s, and that’s where I grew up. From interviewing my first employee’s panic, to learning how to manage a team, to coping with the serious stage fears when I first introduced a product, the journey has been real. What we have accomplished and what we have learned cannot begin to imagine a more rewarding adventure.
Our community joined the movement before we even had a product back when we had ambitions and ideas. Hundreds of people with you show me ice cream, thousands attend our launching events, and millions buy our products worldwide; I thank you for believing in us all these years.
And team. Surprising people with whom I am fortunate to fight together. The friendship I made here is one of the most precious parts of this journey. With them, the company is in competent hands.
I am forever grateful to Pete for taking the opportunity in this child without a college degree, nothing but his name, but a dream. Confidence, guidance and camaraderie will never be forgotten. Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime.
I’ve never apologized for trusting my gut feeling, and this time it’s no different. Over the years, OnePlus has been my only focus, and I have had to pursue everything else. I look forward to catching up with my family and friends. And then follow my heart on what’s next.
With gratitude, Carl
We’ve visited it many times at new smartphone launches, and you can get an idea of how the company has changed by reading almost everyone.
