Smartphone manufacturer Gionee India announced the appointment of David Chang to head the India operations for the brand.

David Chang is the global sales director of Gionee Communication Equipment.

Gionee has a customer base of 1.25 crore in India. Gionee has retail presence in over 42,000 stores and has 600 exclusive service centers.

Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and Lenovo are the top five smartphone brands in India during the second quarter of 2017. Gionee is facing tough competition from other China smartphone brands due to lack of innovation and marketing spend.

“As part of our global marketing strategy, India ranks number one and the success witnessed in a span of last five years has given us immense optimism to further invest and expand our presence in the market,” said David Chang, global sales director, Gionee Communication Equipment.

David Chang will lead Gionee India’s next phase of growth in the country by driving the operations and brand positioning in the country, with emphasis on retail expansion, sales volumes and after sales establishing the connect with customers.

Gionee has invested in 555 exclusive service stations with plans to expand to 600 enhance its after sales relationships with the customers.

Analyst firm Canalys says Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Gionee and Lenovo control over 50 percent of India’s smartphone market.

“With China suffering its own decline this quarter, India is a market of huge strategic importance to Chinese smartphone vendors,” said Canalys Research Analyst Ishan Dutt.

“Samsung is under immense pressure in the mid-tier from the Chinese players. For now, its low-end J Series is helping it sustain its lead and maintain share. But it needs to use its brand to make its mid-tier devices more desirable,” Ishan Dutt said.