Two major Chinese automakers announce new chairmen

Rumors squashed

Before the new appointments by Dongfeng and FAW Group, the two SOEs halted trading on May 5 as a reaction to rumors that a merger between the two companies was imminent.

The Hong Kong-listed Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd denied the rumors on May 5 and resumed trading that afternoon. Dongfeng Automobile Co Ltd, Dongfeng Electronic Technology Co Ltd, FAW Car Co Ltd and Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co Ltd, all of whom are publicly listed, all denied the merger rumors and resumed trading on May 7.

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Zhu Yanfeng, chairman of Dongfeng Motor. [Photo/China Daily]

Zhu, 54, is a resident of Zhejiang province and holds a master's in engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology and a bachelor's from Zhejiang University.

After receiving his degree from Zhejiang University, he joined FAW Group, based in Jilin province, in 1983. He became the group's general manager in 1999.

Eight years later, he was appointed as vice-governor of Jilin province in 2007, and elected as deputy secretary of the provincial Party committee in 2012.