TCL Communications will make key changes to its organisational structure and management team in Oceania, effective 1 December 2020.

In a letter sent to customers obtained by Appliance Retailer, TCL Communications said: “In order for the business to be closely aligned with the global strategy, and signifying the ever-growing importance of the region to the business, TCL Communication Limited is bringing its management function in-house, while ensuring its long standing relationship with Synefon (Australasia) Pty Ltd continues.”

Under the new organisational structure, TCL has appointed Michael Kwok as general manager for Oceania with the departure of long-serving managing director, Sam Skontos (pictured above). Kwok, who is currently based in TCL Headquarters in Shenzhen, will be responsible for the business strategy and overall sales performance of the region.

He will be supported by Fei Xin, who has been appointed as deputy general manager of Oceania. Xin who is already based in Australia will be responsible for the TCL brand and its sales activities within the region.

Synefon will end its 12-year partnership with TCL for outsourced management services but will continue in a consultancy role to retain market knowledge and experience across the markets in Oceania.

The partnership ensured the business was driven by Sam Skontos as managing sirector, Paul Lakkis as director of sales and Arnaud Abad as director of technical and support. This resulted in the Alcatel brand establishing itself as a mobility brand across the South East Asia & Pacific markets. Within Australia and New Zealand, Alcatel mobile reached number three in volume behind Samsung and Apple.

“As consultants, the Synefon team will continue to offer the same level of service that our customers have been accustomed to over the last 12 years, ensuring its strong expertise remains to benefit TCL. They will be focused on implementing and supporting all business activities around its Alcatel branded products,” TCL said in its letter to customers.

“These key management appointments, combined with the appointment of Synefon as consultants, is in line with our strategy of expanding and investing in a local sales team to strengthen the business and our commitment to focusing on the services we provide to customers. It also comes as the TCL brand launches and continues to grow in importance in the Oceania region,” the letter continued.