Xiaomi fires ex-Redmi chief Wang Teng for leaking company secrets: 5 key things to know

Who was Wang Teng and what happened?Wang Teng, Xiaomi’s former China Marketing General Manager and head of the Redmi brand, was fired on September 8. The company cited “leaking company secrets” and “serious conflicts of interest” as reasons for his dismissal.

Why it mattersWang was one of China’s most influential smartphone marketing executives, with over 1.7 million social media followers. He played a major role in Redmi’s record-breaking product launches, making his sudden firing a big shock to the industry.

Allegations behind the firingSources suggest Wang used advance knowledge of supplier deals for personal financial gain. This could include profiting from stock purchases or consulting arrangements based on insider information, raising serious governance concerns.

A broader industry issueWang’s case highlights systemic challenges in China’s tech sector, where rapid growth and high-pressure roles have sometimes outpaced internal controls. Other companies, like ByteDance and Tencent, have faced similar ethics and compliance issues in recent years.