Huawei names Messi as new global brand ambassador

March 21: The Chinese telecommunications equipment and service company Huawei has appointed Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi as its new brand ambassador. The company on 17 March made the aanouncement amid a program in Barcelona, Spain. 

"We are happy to announce our collaboration with extraordinary individual who inspires people all over the world to pursue their dreams, to face challenges to become better with each day," said Tyrone Liu, CEO of Consumer Business Group for Huawei Latin America.

 "Lionel Messi will help our brand encourage people to focus, preserve and breakthrough; to connect with greatness, especially in Europe, Asia and Latin America, where Huawei puts great devotion," Huawei Consumer Business Group President for handset business Kevin Ho said in a statement.  

The association with FC Barcelona striker is considered important for Huawei as the company has been trying to expand its foothold in Europe and Latin America. The Chinese tech giant became the world’s third largest smartphone maker in January after Samsung and Apple. The company’s global market share of smartphones rose to 8.4 percent from 6.2 percent in 2015, according to a report by international data and analytics firm TendForce.