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OnePlus CEO takes on additional role overseeing OPPO and OnePlus strategy
June 16, 2025
Update, August 02, 2025 03:45 EDT:Updated article to clarify aspects of Lau’s svp position and the brands it covers after realme reached out toAndroid Authorityto explain that its products do not fall under the scope of Lau’s new role.
Original article, August 20, 2025 11:00 EDT:OnePlus CEO and co-founder Pete Lau (born Liu Zuohu) started his career at OPPO. Rising through the ranks,he eventually co-created OnePlusas an offshoot of OPPO.
However, it appears he will be having a sort-of-homecoming, as he has officially taken on a new role as a senior vice president at investor OPLUS, overseeing both OnePlus and OPPO. His duties will primarily revolve around brand synergy and focus on product development for OPPO and OnePlus.
OnePlus CEO Pete Lau will still be CEO
Now, this doesn’t mean that Lau will no longer be in charge of OnePlus. In a statement OnePlus gave toAndroid Authority, the company makes that very clear:
OPLUS is a mysterious investor company that oversees OnePlus, OPPO, and realme (realme tellsAndroid Authoritythat Lau’s new role will not impact its devices). Lau detailed OnePlus’ involvement with this investor for the first time just a few months ago, in an interview withFast Company.
BBK Electronicstechnically oversees all three brands as well as vivo and others. However, Lau claims that OPLUS has nothing to do with BBK. As ever, the background funding and corporate hierarchy of OnePlus and its sister brands are clouded in mystery.
So, is this good news or bad news?
As of right now, it’s difficult to say. Pete Lau has been OnePlus’ CEO since the company started, and that’s been his only official role. It’s possible that Lau having more on his plate could distract him from his OnePlus duties, which would hurt the brand, no doubt.
Related:OnePlus phones: A history of the company’s entire lineup thus far
However, it’s also possible that Lau’s new role won’t require that much from him, at least not enough to detrimentally affect OnePlus. If that ends up being true, then brand synergy between OPPO, realme, and OnePlus will be generally a good thing. It could bring some cohesion to the increasingly confusing Chinese smartphone market.
Time will tell how this pans out. In the meantime, things at OnePlus are unlikely to change too much for now.
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