Apple Names Isabel Ge Mahe Managing Director For Greater China

Apple recently announced it named a new managing director for Greater China. Isabel Ge Mahe, who previously worked for more than nine years in wireless technology at Apple, will step into the newly created role.

Ge Mahe’s position was designed to help Apple better localize its offerings for Chinese consumers and navigate the increasingly complicated regulatory environment for foreign tech players.

“Apple is strongly committed to [investing] and [growing] in China,” said Tim Cook, chief executive officer at Apple, in a news release. “We look forward to making even greater contributions under her leadership.”

New Chinese compliance rules require foreign technology firms to store data locally and in partnership with Chinese firms. Apple has already announced its intentions to construct a data center with a local partner in Guizhou as part of a $1 billion upgrade effort. Apple confirmed it will not include backdoors that allow third party access to said data.

Prior to her current role, Ge Mahe worked with China’s state-backed telecom firms to develop and enhance market-specific function in Apple products.

“I am looking forward to deepening our team’s connections with customers, government and businesses in China to advance innovation and sustainability,” said Ge Mahe in the statement.

Ge Mahe will report directly to Cook and Apple’s chief operating officer Jim Williams.