Hikvision NA President Jeffrey He 'Promoted' / Removed

Published Aug 01, 2018 12:49 PM

With an impending US government ban of their products, financial struggles and increasing scrutiny of Hikvision human rights abuse, Hikvision has promoted their long-term North American President Jeffrey He.

Inside this note, we examine:

  • He's North America replacement from China
  • How Hikvision handled this much smarter than Dahua's recent International move
  • How this impacts the ~400 US employees now reporting to the new GM
  • What Hikvision's future outlook is

Announcement ********

********* **** * ******* ******** ****** '********* ***** ******* ************** ******' ** ******* ****. ***** *** a ****** ** ******** ***** ********** are ********* ******** *****:

  • ******* ********** *** ******* ********* *** the ******** ****** ** ********* *********** that *********'* "********** ** ************ *** remained * *** *********** ** *** we ***".
  • ********* **** **** *** "*********** *** necessary ********* ** **** ******* *** current ***********" *** ***** ** ** explanation ** **** **** '***********' **, though ***** *********'* ****** ******* ********* (e.g.,*,*,*) **** *** **** ***** *********'* political ********, ** ***** ** ********** to ****** ** ** ********.
  • ** **** *** "***** ** * range ** ********* **********" *** ********* offers ** *********** ** **** ***** challenges ***.
  • *******, ********* ********* ********* ** **** they *** *** ******* *** * press ******* (**** ******** *** ******* promotions) *** ******** ** ********* ** these '**********' *** '***********'.

Promotion ********

*** ******** ********* *** *********:

******* ** *** **** ******** ** Vice ********* **** ******** ********* ******* Technology **., *** *** **** ****** President ** ********* *** *** ****** Inc., ** ***** ** * ***** of ********* **********.

****: "******** ********* ******* ********** **" is *** ****** **** *** ********* China ***** ********* *** ** *** 100% ***** ********** ** ******** ********* Digital ********** **.

Face ** ********* **

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**, ****** ****** ******* ******* ******** managers, *** ********* ********** *** ************* in *** ******* ********, ***** ********* contributed ** *** ***** * ******** executive.

New ** ********

**'* *********** ******** *** ** ************ is**** ****, *** ********* **** *** ******** University ** ******* *** ********** ** 2008, **** ********* **********:

**** **** *** **** ******** ** the ******** ** ******* *******, ********* North *******, ***** ** **** **** oversight **** *** ************’* ******** *********.

**** *** **** ** *** ** the **** *** *****, **** ******** as *** ****** ********, ********* *** Global ******** (***/*** ********), *********** *** ******** *******.

Hikvision *** ********* ******

*** **** ********* ****** ** ** Hikvision *** *********. *********'* ***** ****, in **********, *** ******** ******* ******** people, *** ***** *** ** ** outsider **** ******* ********** ********** *** local *********. ** *** ***** ****, the **** ********* ****** ** ********* salespeople ** *** ********* ** ********** ban.

Retreat ** ***

** ****** ********* **** ******* ** SMB *** **** **** **** ** part ** **** ********. *** **** banning ********* ******** *** ****** ************** with *** ****** *** [******]**** *** ***** *** ****** **** passed **, ******* ** ** *** President ** **** ** **** ***.

***** ****, ********* ** ****** ******* planning *** ** '***********' ***** ***** products **** **** ******** *** ** government ***.

Versus ***** ****

*********'* ******** ** **** **** ** much ****** **** *****'*. ***** ************ ***** ****-**** ******** ******** ****, **** **** *******, ****** **** no *** ***** **** ******* *** face ** ***** ******** ******** *** gone. ** ********, ********* *********** ************ to ***** *******, ******* ** ** a ********* ** ******* ***** *** save ****.

Vote / ****

UPDATE: ** *********** ** '************* ****** *******'

** ********* ****, ** *** ******* from ***** ********* ** ********* *** / ****** *** ** *** *** VP *** '************* ****** *******' ******* primarily **** ******** / ******** ******* the ** ********** *** *** *********.

Comments (23)
U
Undisclosed #1
Aug 01, 2018

I voted "Not Sure" because that was the closest option to "put on a shelf". I do not think this is a promotion in any way, and he has not been removed per se. 

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Aug 01, 2018

Politely put to pasture is more like it.  It could soon be a new day/dusk for Hik and also Dahua.  Curious, what pct was govt business to both companies?  

(1)
JH
John Honovich
Aug 01, 2018
IPVM

what pct was govt business to both companies?

Quite low for both, single-digit percentage points. The problem is the branding impact as a lot of non-governmental but government-related entities will disqualify Dahua and Hikvision because of this.

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U
Undisclosed #1
Aug 01, 2018

Curious, what pct was govt business to both companies?

I think that government business was very low overall, but they had big aspirations of getting into that market. Signs are now pointing to Hikua being firmly cordoned off into the lower-end/SMB market segment.

It will be interesting to see what kind of presence Hikvision has at ASISGSX, and ISC West 2019. Their big spending made sense to try and court larger customers and integrators, but would be less common for a manufacturer that funnels most of their business through ADI sales and counter days.

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 01, 2018
IPVM

It will be interesting to see what kind of presence Hikvision has at ASISGSX

Hikvision has pulled out of ASIS / GSX. We will have more details tomorrow but that's a notable and very recent move.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Aug 02, 2018

Well... it is GSX.  Pretty sure everyone is pulling out of that mess.

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Lol, yes, but Hikvision did not just pull out because they just realized GSX is a mess...

Related: ASIS GSX Show Struggling Getting Exhibitors

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U
Undisclosed #1
Aug 02, 2018

Ouch. The shows are usually not very forgiving of things like that. Doubtful Hik is getting their deposit back. It’s 2 months before the show, and they had a huge booth. That’s got to be at least $50K lost. 

Meanwhile, GSX has a giant hole to fill in the middle of the floor. That’s gonna be one hell of a ‘partner lounge’. Maybe they will use Hik’s deposit to buy everyone a free 5 minute chair massage or something. 

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 01, 2018
IPVM

Update: the Senate passed the bill today, it goes now to Trump to sign into law, more on this tomorrow.

MM
Michael Miller
Aug 02, 2018

The article only mentions ZTE and Huawei.  Have you confirmed Hikvision and Dahua are included? 

JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Mike, you are asking if I would publicly state something this serious without proof???

That article only mentions ZTE and Huawei because those two are much better known to mainstream audiences.

Here is the final conference report / bill, sections below with all companies impacted listed:

Our dedicated post on this will be up shortly this morning. Update: US Congress Passes Bill Banning Dahua and Hikvision

Avatar
Sean Nelson
Aug 02, 2018
Nelly's Security

Going in SMB is the right move anyways, this is Hiks bread and butter and always has been. I got a chance to speak in length with him a couple weeks ago. Very well spoken and I was surprised by his light heartedness and sense of humor. 

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Sean, he should love you! :)

In all seriousness, I have heard a few positive reports of Chen, so that's good to hear.

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Note I changed the title to append 'Removed'. Given the additional news that they dropped out of ASIS and Congress passing the bill banning, it is obvious this is not a genuine 'promotion'.

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U
Undisclosed #6
Aug 03, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Note I changed the title to append 'Removed'. Given the additional news that they dropped out of ASIS and Congress passing the bill banning, it is obvious this is not a genuine 'promotion'.

At Dahuaremoved + promotion = rotation.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Aug 02, 2018

I would have voted "future Organ Donor" but that wasn't an option :) 

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Jeffrey was loyal to Hikvision and worked really hard to do what China wanted, under extremely difficult conditions. I doubt they are happy right now but I don't see them reasonably blaming him.

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Avatar
Salvatore D'Agostino
Aug 02, 2018
IDmachines

How about the extent of the OEM relationships impacted here with other companies and private label?

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 02, 2018
IPVM

Sal, Hikvision US OEM business is likely to be hurt, especially among the bigger OEMs who are likely going to be afraid to have to disclose they are relabelling equipment banned for US government use.

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U
Undisclosed #5
Aug 02, 2018

China/Chinese companies do not like any type of bad press so this a way to put a "spin" on this type of news...This is how all communist regimes work !

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DJ
Damith Jayasinghe
Aug 03, 2018

they also just removed their Australia head as well for no real apparent reason.

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 06, 2018
IPVM

Damith, thanks. I confirmed that with another source. He is Daniel Huang, featured in this 2017 interview defending Hikvision.

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JH
John Honovich
Aug 21, 2023
IPVM

While Jeffrey He has publicly been essentially invisible, he is till quietly leading Hikvision's efforts to win over Western governments.

A few examples of appearances from him:

Certainly, he has far more actions than this but overwhelmingly they are done outside of public forums. For example, He has deleted all his past posts on LinkedIn.