Hu Xiu·2025-10-17 04:11Core Points - Fuyao Glass announced the resignation of its chairman, Cao Dewang, who has been in the position for over ten years, with his son, Cao Hui, taking over the role [1][9] - Cao Dewang expressed his intention to retire completely next year at the age of 80, believing that stepping down would benefit the company [2][10] - The transition of leadership marks the end of a long-planned succession strategy initiated by Cao Dewang [7] Company Overview - Fuyao Glass was founded by Cao Dewang, who transformed the Chinese automotive glass market by reducing reliance on imports [3][5] - The company has a market value of approximately 170 billion yuan [4][15] - Fuyao Glass has expanded internationally, establishing production bases in 12 countries, including the U.S., Russia, and Germany [6] Succession Details - Cao Hui, born in 1970, has been groomed for leadership from a young age, starting from the grassroots level within the company [4][11] - The succession plan has been in place for several years, with Cao Dewang initially planning to step down in a phased manner [13][14] - Cao Hui's return to Fuyao Glass in 2018, after a brief entrepreneurial venture, was seen as a preparation for his eventual leadership role [14] Industry Context - The transition of leadership at Fuyao Glass reflects a broader trend in China, where many founding entrepreneurs are reaching retirement age [16][17] - Over a quarter of the founders of China's top family businesses are aged 70 or older, highlighting the urgency of succession planning [17] - The challenges of passing on family businesses are significant, with many second-generation leaders facing difficulties in maintaining and growing the enterprises [21][23]