Hugo Barra Says Goodbye to Xiaomi, Returning to Silicon Valley

Xiaomi's vice president in charge of global operations Hugo Barra has left the company citing health concerns and a new role. It seems that Beijing - a city infamous for hazardous air pollution has taken a toll on the VP. Barra had shifted to Beijing after joining Xiaomi.

He was hired from Google in 2013 where he was a vice president working on the Android mobile operating system.

In a social media post on Monday, Barra said he was leaving the company after three-and-a-half years for a new project based in Silicon Valley.

This exit comes at a crucial time for the Chinese smartphone maker which was once considered the world's most valuable startup. The startup was registering triple-digit growth and was giving a tough fight to Samsung and Apple. However, it has been struggling for the past two years and has diversified its portfolio.

"The last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health," Barra said in the statement on Facebook.

"Seeing how much I've left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return."

Xiaomi was in news for all the bad reason from quite some time. From the halt of production in Brazil due to the country's economic instability, and a temporary ban in India in 2014 over patent infringements the company is trying hard to take over the market.

Barra is planning to take time off before embarking on a new role which is not clear yet however we are sure that he is returning back to the Silicon Valley.