Xiaomi has hired Jabong co-founder Manu Kumar Jain to head its India operations, a person familiar with the matter said, signaling the Chinese smartphone maker’s moves to kick-start operations in the highly lucrative but fragmented smartphone market. Jain, who quit Jabong earlier this year, is the first hire by Xiaomi to help establish a base in the country. The handset maker is expected to launch the first devices later this year. Founded in June 2010 in China, Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing smartphone vendors coming out of Asia. The company’s intention to enter the Indian market was revealed by its global vicepresident and former Google vicepresident, Hugo Barra in an interview with CNET earlier this year.

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