Tributes have been paid to Huawei deputy chairman Ding Yun (Ryan) who died suddenly last week of a suspected heart attack last week aged 53.
He joined Huawei in 1996 and has served as Product Line President, President of the Global Solution Sales Dept, President of the Global Marketing Dept, and President of Products & Solutions.
At the time of his death he was Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, President of the Corporate Leadership Management Department President of the Enterprise BG, and President of the Carrier BG.
Ex-EE CEO Olaf Swantee told his LinkedIn followers: “I knew Ryan from his work at Huawei, where he started in 1996 and was most recently Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
“We met for the first time in early 2012 when we laid plans to transform the UK’s mobile infrastructure by launching 4G. From the beginning, he inspired me with his incredible energy, technical know-how, and project management skills.
“Without him, EE, Sunrise, and T-Mobile would not have been able to establish their network leadership positions in the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands. These are just a few examples where his personal influence helped deliver the most ambitious transformations.”
BT Group chief technology officer Howard Watson added: “Really sad to hear of Ryan’s premature passing. I agree that without the amazing early relationship the EE network would not be where it is today.”
Ian Ravenscroft, vice president of Huawei Fintech said: “I first new Ryan when we needed a new platform for M-Pesa in 2012 and without his energy and support the engine that is Huawei Fintech would not exist to power mobile finance and and change peoples lives for the better around the world.”