Controversial Chinese 5G Network Operator Huawei Appointed New Austria CEO
The Mainland Chinese Harvey Zhang (38) has been appointed CEO of Huawei Technologies Austria, effective immediately. He replaces Jackie Zhang (38), who was appointed as the new Austria boss just a few months ago.
Huawei Technologies Austria GmbH is headquartered in the IZD Tower at Wagramer Straße 19, 1220 Vienna, just opposite the VIC Vienna International Centre. / Picture: © Flickr / Janos Korom / [CC BY-SA 2.0(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)]
Who is Huawei's new Austria CEO?
Harvey Zhang brings 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry as well as expertise in sales and marketing.
Born in Mainland China, he studied at Guilin University of Electronic Technology.
In 2018, Harvey Zhang was seconded by Huawei to Moldova, where he served as Country Manager.
His next assignment was to Romania as Deputy Managing Director.
According to the press release, Harvey Zhang has just now arrived in Vienna, where he has been appointed Austria Chief.
"I am looking forward to the new challenges and to working with my team." says Harvey Zhang.
As the objective of his job, the press release states that Zhang wants to promote cooperation with network operators, NGOs and the public sector, and provide Huawei Technologies Austria with new solutions in the fields of 5G, AI and green energy.
Why is Huawei so controversial?
Contrary to Huawei's boycott and other countries' criticism of the state-controlled company, Austria has so far cooperated with Huawei.
Huawei is so controversial because, while formally privately owned, in practice the group originates from a state where political crackdowns are common even in non-state-owned companies.
In China, there is no functioning rule of law that protects individuals or companies from state intervention. De facto, no Chinese company can escape Chinese state or intelligence pressure.
Even in Western democracies and constitutional states, it is sometimes difficult, e.g. to fend off demands from government agencies to install software backdoors to read data traffic abroad.
New Austrian Telecommunications Act sets the stage for the 5G network rollout
The recent passage of the new Austrian Telecommunications Act has set the stage for 5G network rollout. The amendment to the law was recently passed in the Federal Council and seeks to put the legal basis for the rollout of the 5G network in Austria on a new footing.
Huawei Technologies Austria GmbH is headquartered in the IZD Tower at Wagramer Straße 19, 1220 Vienna, just opposite the VIC Vienna International Centre.
The IZD Tower is home to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, the US Mission in Vienna, Austro Control, Borealis and Zumtobel, among others.
Only a few months ago, in January 2020, Huawei had appointed a new Austrian CEO, Jackie Zhang, also a 38-year-old mainland Chinese. Why Jackie Zhang was replaced so quickly is unclear.