Dahua USA Removes Head of Marketing

By John Honovich, Published Nov 06, 2017, 12:31pm EST

Dahua USA's marketing and just their overall business organization has been a mess.

These guys could not sell life jackets on the Titanic.

But, earlier this year, they made a good hire and got lucky getting Janet Fenner who had run marketing at Samsung / Hanwha. Now, on their 3rd CEO / President this year (e.g., Dahua Demotes USA CEO and then Dahua USA President Out, South American President Takes Over), Fenner has now been bizarrely moved to business development from marketing.

In this note, we examine the sad saga of Dahua USA.

The ****

******'* ****** **-**** ****** [link ** ****** *********] has **** ** *********. Now, ***** *** ******** *** from **** ** ********* to ******** ** ******** Development. *** ***** ** able ** **** ** business *********** *** ***** are ******** *********** *** there *** *** **** talented *** *********** ********* people ** ***** ************ (certainly *** ********** **** eager ** **** ** Dahua).

****** *** *** **** person ** **** ************ with *********** ******** ********** and *********** **** ***** American *********. ** ** a **** ***** ***** to ** ** *** her ** * ********** different ***** ** ** experiment.

Her *********** - *****

*** *********** ** *** Shen [**** ** ****** available]. **** *** **** at ***** *** * years, ***** ** ****, and **** *** *** last * ** *** USA.

**** ** ********* *** worst ********* ****** ** have ***** **** ** the ********. ********* ** providing * ******** ********, answering ********* ********, *** creating *** ******** ****, Shen's *** ******** ** speaking *******. *** ****** that ***** **** **, but *** ******* ********* and **** ** *** experience **** ** * puzzling ****** *** *****. Or, ** ********, ***** not ********, ***** *****'* track ******.

Not ******* *****

***** ******** ** **** may assume **** ** ******* of ****'* ******** ** 'China'. *** ** ** clear. ********* ** ** organized, capable ************* ******** (****** a ******** ** *** Chinese ********** **** *** own ********* *** **********). Dahua's ********** *** ******* close ** *********. **** graphic *** **** *** understand *** **** ** the ******** ********* ** these *********:

Dahua's ***** ******

***********, ***** *** ******** major ***** ****** ** 2017. **** ** **** is ******'* *****. *** was *** *** *** who ******** ** ** many *************** ** ***** products **** ***** ********* could *** ****** ******** **** **** ******* the ******* ****** *****.

**** *** ********* ********, 'Dahua ****** *** ***** Over' *** *****, ***** that ** ********** *****'* weaknesses (******* *****/***** ****** in ***** *******) ** leveraging (******) ***** **** sales ****** ** ***** and ***** ***** ********* to *** ******** ****** to ********* ***** *** what **** **** ************ elsewhere. ** *********** ('***** ****** *** World ****')***, *****, **** *** Dahua's **********'* ***** *** delivering ******** **** ** many ***************, *** *********.

The ****** ** ***** *** ** ****

** ***** *** *** a *** *********, **** China, * ****** *********** marketing ******** *** ***** no *** ** ** Sales.

****** ***** ***** ** run * ******* ***** better ** **** ** quite *** ****** **** things ****** *** ********* in *****.

Comments (42)

Undisclosed Distributor #1

11/06/17 05:49pm

I was shocked when I saw the LinkedIn notification. Janet Fenner is one of the smartest people I ever met in my 18+ years in the security industry. Shuffling her to the side is just another indication of how Dahua just cannot seem to get out of its own way. I wish I bought Dahua just so I could drop them.

Janet, if you're reading this, I hope you get picked up by a better company soon.

David Delepine

AA Security Systems LLC
IPVMU Certified | 11/06/17 06:10pm

I noticed this on Janet's LinkedIn, and I was hoping that maybe it was a promotion of some sort? I think she has a done a great deal to improve the brand image of the company, including bring their US social media pages up to snuff.

Honestly the reason I started using Dahua was because of some great people I met who work there. I realized quickly the experience one has with Dahua is directly based on who you deal with. Which although has been mostly positive for me, is a terrible indicator for a business of this size. If the good people start being side lined and/or jump ship... then my days of doing business with Dahua are numbered.

Scot MacTaggart

11/06/17 06:26pm

Janet's smart, capable, and has plenty of career left. She will be fine.

This is embarrassing for Dahua though. Her value wasn't just as a good marketer - her highest value to Dahua was as a signal to other higher-level industry people that they should consider the company.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 11/06/17 09:12pm

If that is the case, then the move might be a good one.

To that end, I am not sure I agree that Janet's move and the new hire should be lumped together as one decision. While Dahua has proven themselves adept at making multiple mistakes in a row, each choice should be scrutinized independently.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 11/06/17 09:53pm

Janet's move and the new hire

To clarify, there is no 'new hire' in this move. Shen was already working at Dahua in marketing before Fenner arrived. Fenner was brought in for her actual NA marketing expertise. Now, they have returned NA marketing to Shen.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 11/06/17 07:34pm

Fenner’s out, but the logo stays?

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/07/17 03:52pm

The logo that looks cool, but most don't know how to pronounce it. The logo sure doesn't help pronounce it. Their creative marketing video doesn't really fix that problem and just provides a good laugh. Hikvision and Dahua both have names that people can pronounce incorrectly.

A long time ago I was corrected on the proper way to pronounce Neutrik. An industry standard in audio that I catch all the time pronouncing incorrectly.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Kyle Folger | 11/07/17 04:44pm

A long time ago I was corrected on the proper way to pronounce Neutrik.

A faux pas made even more glaring when connected to a Neumann :)

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Kyle Folger | 11/07/17 07:18pm

Hikvision and Dahua both have names that people can pronounce incorrectly.

True, though with Dahua many are unsure even how many syllables it is:

Josh Aldridge

11/06/17 08:59pm

This very well might be a promotion. Moving her to lead the business development segment will likely result in much better sales engagement (depending on how Dahua uses the position, of course).

Undisclosed #3

11/06/17 09:02pm

Janet must feel like Sarah Huckabee-Sanders over at Dahua.

Undisclosed Distributor #5

11/07/17 02:30pm

Your description of Tim Shen is brutal but accurate. Taking a meeting with him is a colossal waste of time. You walk away shaking your head. Moving him to up head marketing is the bigger concern.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #5 | 11/07/17 05:41pm

Same experience with Tim Shen. Waste of time.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 11/07/17 05:45pm

Dahua launches new “Truth in Advertising” ad campaign:

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

11/08/17 04:38am

I worked with Janet at Hanwha, and she's rock solid. She engaged with several of my Spanish speaking customers, and she did spectacular. I have no doubt that she'll do fine.

That being said, she could do a lot better. Might I recommend the following:

https://www.genetec.com/about-us/careers

https://www.milestonesys.com/about-us/jobs-and-careers/

and several others....

Undisclosed Manufacturer #10

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #7 | 11/14/17 03:42pm

hmmm.... seems like someone doesn't want her going to a rival camera manufacturer. "They always want you to do good, but never better than them" ~ anonymous

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #10 | 11/14/17 05:18pm

Yup. They are very keen to their job security.

Robert Shih

Independent
11/09/17 10:02pm

As far as LinkedIn is concerned her new position pays more on average. Maybe it IS a promotion? *Wishful thinking*

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Shih | 11/09/17 11:53pm

new position pays more on average

Well, if pay equals promotion, we should all be in sales like you ;)

In all seriousness, is business development more important than marketing? That certainly could be debated but, what is fairly indisputable is that these are distinct skill sets / expertise so, to me, that's the risk for both sides.

Robert Shih

Independent
In reply to John Honovich | 11/10/17 02:29pm

Well, I only impart this hoping that she's doing well. Regardless of Dahua doing what it does, she deserves to be compensated well for her efforts.

Josh Aldridge

In reply to John Honovich | 11/10/17 02:48pm

That's a very good question regarding business development vs marketing and I agree regarding the skill sets being quite distinct from each other. What made Janet so extremely valuable as a marketing person was her people skills that allowed her to be one of the industries best business development people WHILE being over marketing. If she can create a business development team that follows her example and is successful, it would be a net win for Dahua (even with having an inferior marketing person), but an even bigger win for her.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 11/13/17 04:59am

There’s still Anna and Jennifer at least...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/22/17 11:50pm

Update: Anna Boudinot has left Dahua.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

In reply to John Honovich | 11/23/17 12:37am

Good for her... that’s a sounds career move, if I do say so myself, and one we’re certain to see trending in the immediate future.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 11/23/17 03:10am

Anna Boudinot has left Dahua.

Maybe Longse will take notice and give her a call.

Then she could be the first winner of the Hikualong Chinese Triple Crown.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/23/17 01:59am

There’s still Jennifer.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/23/17 02:24am

She has a totally different type of role within the organization and is pretty safe where she is, but is undoubtedly scrambling to escape like everyone else in that aisle of the office.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

11/13/17 11:23pm

This article was published on Jan 4 2017: Dahua New Marketing Head Hired From Hanwha / Samsung

To which I commented:

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

Hiring a right person is not the key. The key is whether Dahua will let the person do his or her job.

11 months later, she is not the head of Dahua marketing anymore.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #8 | 11/13/17 11:34pm

Take your bow #8, you called it. I overestimated Dahua and I paid the price.

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #8 | 11/14/17 12:04am

I wonder if Dahua will realize how detrimental actions like there are to attracting top people in the future. Nobody wants to join a company where they are going to be held back or have things shifted on them without choice.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

In reply to Brian Karas | 11/14/17 01:27am

I heard there are many people who took the position at Dahua USA thinking that it was a career advancement. Only to find his or her career peaked at their previous job.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #8 | 11/14/17 02:10am

Wholeheartedly agree, as someone who experienced this first-hand.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 11/14/17 02:31am

Was there a previous “Director of Business Development” ?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #9

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/23/17 03:45pm

Yeah, Steve Rea, which explains a lot.

Larry Tracy

11/23/17 03:04pm

Dahua should write a book "how not to enter the American Market"

There are some talented people at Dahua I used to work with but as has just been said " are they allowed to do their job"

My guess is the person in China who is in charge of the US business unit is the problem. Typically the foreign subsidiaries of Chinese companies have little local authority and need permission to go to the bathroom.

Scott Smith

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Larry Tracy | 11/23/17 04:17pm

"My guess is the person in China who is in charge of the US business unit is the problem. Typically the foreign subsidiaries of Chinese companies have little local authority and need permission to go to the bathroom."

Korean too!