Zhang Ruimin Founder of Haier Group
Zhang Ruimin Founder of Haier Group

Biography of Zhang Ruimin

Early Life

Zhang Ruimin Founder of Haier Group was born in Qingdao, Shandong on 5th January, 1949. He was born in a working class family. His father and mother, both were employed in a garment factory in locality. As a young boy he was also affected by Cultural Revolution like many other pupils. He had to be a part of the Red Guards as that movement was spread across the whole country. He took active part in the process of Chinese communism. He attended all the rallies off Mao Zedong and also visited Mao’s birthplace. He attended those rallies in Beijing because all the schools and educational institutions were closed. And when eventually that movement was over, he avoided going into countryside.

Due to that disturbance in the educational system of the country almost all the schools were shutdown. And he was unable to get admission in any college. Despite of having a little education he started his carrier not in a conventional manner. He started his carrier in Construction Company which was under state’s control in Qingdao in year 1968.

Career in the Factory

His educational background was not strong enough for a competent environment. Despite of that weak educational background he had eager for learning new things. During his working hours in the factory he started learning management courses. He increased his learning ability through self-study by reading different books in spare time.

On the other hand he was progressing in the company on different designations. He jumped on the post of workshop supervisor. After that he was further promoted to the job of deputy director of the company. He earned that position after the hard work of twelve years in 1980.

After two years in 1982 he became the deputy manager of “Household Appliance Division” of the Qingdao municipal government. In the same company he took over as general manager of one of its plant “Qingdao Refrigerator Plant” after resign of its previous general manager. When he joined that position he was the fourth person for that position in the history of company. In his era that company fell into deep trouble of debts. It was liable to pay more than ten million dollars.

Founder of Haier Group

As the general manager of Qingdao Refrigerator Plant he went to Germany for meeting his company’s German partner. He went there and realized that the cause of company’s regression was its quality and reputation, he took some severe steps for improving those areas and slowly and gradually the company went on right path. In 1986 his Qingdao Refrigerator plant recovered from all debts and became profitable. In proceeding years, Company went on to takeover other plants also. These plants included Qingdao Electroplating Company, Qingdao Air Conditioner Plant and Qingdao Freezer.

In 1991, he renamed his Qingdao Refrigerator to Qingdao Haier Group. He remained again as its general manager. That company is today commonly known as Haier Group.

Haier Group

Haier Group is a multinational corporation of China in the field of consumer electronics and home appliances. It’s headquarter is in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It does business in air conditioners, computers, washing machines, televisions, mobile phones, microwave ovens and refrigerators. In 2011 the Haier brand became the world’s biggest company in terms of its share in white products.

Initially this company was a refrigerator company with the name Qingdao Refrigerator and its merger with a German refrigerator company made it larger reaching up to Haier Group.

Later Years

Apart from the formation of Haier Group he was also interested in politics and remained on some prestigious seats in political field also. He was a follower of Mao Zedong, ultimately a follower of communism.