Mitchinson has held a number of senior roles at the very top of the UK industry during the past 22 years.
Most notably, his 11-year stewardship of Samsung Mobile in the UK and Ireland saw the Korean manufacturer establish itself at the head of the UK market as a consumer mobile brand.
His appointment is a signal of Huawei’s ambitions in the UK, where it will focus significant resource and energy on its devices business through 2011 and beyond.
Huawei UK Chief Executive Officer Victor Zhang remarked: “Mark has shown great business leadership and popularity in the UK mobile industry in the past two decades. He has the rare ability to deliver results for large corporations whilst remaining absolutely true to himself as an individual; a skill that has enabled him to be successful wherever he has gone and endeared him to the market in the process.
“It is a wonderful compliment to Huawei, and a testament to our ambition in the market, that Mark has elected to help us to shape our future in the UK and Ireland.”
Mitchinson said: “There are very few roles, and indeed very few firms, in the UK mobile industry with genuine potential and scale for significant growth. Huawei is a fresh and ambitious challenger in the market and I am both honoured and hugely excited to be at the helm as the company lays the foundation for the future”
Mitchinson joins from Best Buy Europe, where he was Group Managing Director for Carphone Warehouse’s Business, Wholesale and Distribution channels.
Previously, he was with Samsung for 11 years, variously as General Manager, Director and Vice President of its UK and Ireland mobile business. He has also held senior positions in the UK with handset maker Nokia and handset distributor Brightpoint.
Mitchinson has experience of brand building, sales and marketing, and the complicated dynamics at play in the market; all facets Huawei will look to draw upon as it seeks to establish itself as a major consumer brand in the UK and beyond.
Mitchinson takes charge of all Huawei’s sales and marketing activity in the UK and Ireland around handsets, tablets and mobile broadband devices. He reports to UK Chief Executive Officer Victor Zhang. Mitchinson joins on May 3.