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Comment by hueving | Hacker News Reader

Can someone provide some context as to who this is and why it's newsworthy?

Hugo Barra was previously a VP of product development in Google's Android division. He moved to Xiaomi a few years ago, and oversaw their international expansion. That was seen as a pretty big move, since it was probably the most significant poaching of a non-Chinese executive from US tech company by a Chinese tech company.

His resignation from Xiaomi was announced a few days ago - presumably in order to move to this role.

I see, so is there something significant about this move to Facebook? Or is it just more about the fact that he left Xiaomi?

Both. It's not often that a former VP of Google ends up at Facebook.

judging by success of xiaomis international expansion one would think he was fired, they are pretty much only in India and withdrawn from Brazil and Singapore, so his presence was utter failure and it's good riddance for Xiaomi

There's all what everyone else said plus one small thing more which some would call drama. It involves a love triangle between Hugo, Sergey Brin and a girl.

Sigh. Clearly something has fallen down the hype cycle.

HN often seems to pretty much exist of a long stream of Names we're all apparently supposed to know and track.

Some of these execs keep a high public profile and do a lot of press. It's part of the game at most large tech companies that aren't Apple. I personally find it really amusing that they get all this coverage in the tech press almost like they are NBA players, but it's to be expected when they have such a high public profile. Funnily enough, as accomplished as he is and despite the carefully curated PR, I remember him most for being the other part of that Sergey love triangle: http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2014/04/sergey-brin-amanda-r...

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