Dong Mingzhu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dong Mingzhu
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| 董明珠 | |
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Dong Mingzhu
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| Born | August 1954 (age 70) |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Occupation | Chairwoman of Gree Electric |
| Title | Chairman of the board of Gree Electric |
| Term | May 2012–present |
| Predecessor | Zhu Jianghong |
| Children | 1 son |
Dong Mingzhu (born in August 1954) is a famous Chinese businesswoman. She is the Chairwoman of Gree Electric, a very big company that makes air conditioners and other home appliances. She is known for her strong leadership and for helping Gree Electric become a global leader.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dong Mingzhu was born in August 1954 in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. She was the youngest of seven children in her family. When she was a child, she dreamed of becoming a soldier, a doctor, or a teacher.
In 1975, Dong graduated from an institute in Wuhu, Anhui. She earned a degree in Statistics. After finishing her studies, she worked for 15 years. She had an administrative job at a government chemistry laboratory in Nanjing.
Starting Her Career
In 1990, when Dong Mingzhu was 36 years old, she made a big change. Her husband had passed away when her son was very young. She decided to leave her job and move to Shenzhen in Guangdong province. This area was growing fast economically. She later moved to Zhuhai.
She joined Haley, which was the company before Gree Electric. She started as a salesperson. Right away, she showed how good she was. She managed to get back a lot of money that was owed to the company in just over a month.
Leading Gree Electric
By 1994, Dong Mingzhu became the head of sales. She improved how the company sold its products. When Gree Electric became a public company in 1996, Dong was already a deputy president. In 2001, she became the company president.
In 2012, she took on an even bigger role. She became the Chairwoman of Gree Electric. She also led Gree Group, which is the parent company, until 2016.
Under her leadership, Gree Electric grew a lot. It became the world's largest maker of home air conditioning units. It also became China's biggest home appliance company. In 2014, the company made a record 140 billion Yuan in revenue.
Dong helped Gree Electric sell more products online. This was a big reason for the company's success in 2014. The company's stock value also increased by a huge 2300% while she was there.
She also led Gree Electric to explore new areas. The company started working on solar energy and smartphone technology. They also developed robotic technology and opened recycled treatment centers. In 2016, Gree Electric bought an electric car company called Yinlong.
In January 2019, Dong Mingzhu was reelected as Chairwoman of Gree Electric. She continued to work on making the company more competitive globally.
Public Service and Recognition
Dong Mingzhu has also been involved in public service. She has been a member of the National People's Congress multiple times. This is China's top legislative body. She is also part of the China Democratic National Construction Association.
She holds important positions in many industry, women's, and charity groups. She has also taught business classes at universities.
In 2021, Fortune magazine ranked her as the seventh most influential woman in the world.
Awards and Honors
- 2015: Ranked as the 4th most powerful woman in Asia-Pacific by Fortune magazine.
- 2014, 2015: Named one of the Most Influential Chinese Businesswomen by Fortune magazine.
- 2013: Recognized as a "Woman in the Mix" for business by Forbes Asia.
- 2006: Listed among the "Magnificent 10" economic leaders in China.
Personal Life
Dong Mingzhu married after graduating from university. Her husband passed away when her son was two years old. She never remarried. Her son is nicknamed "Dongdong". The New York Times has called her "one of the toughest businesswomen in China."
Published Work
- Regretless Pursuit, 2006. This book was even made into a television series by China Central Television.
