Li Shufu Steps Down as Chairman of GEELY Auto, Ushering in Era of Professional Managers

In mid-August, GEELY Auto announced that its founder, Li Shufu, has stepped down from his roles as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the company; An Conghui has assumed both positions. This leadership transition marks GEELY Auto's formal entry into a new governance era led primarily by professional managers.

Meanwhile, Li Donghui has resigned as Vice Chairman of the Board but remains an Executive Director; Gui Shengyue has been appointed Vice Chairman of the Board while retaining his role as Executive Director; Gan Jiayue has been promoted to Chief Administrative Officer of the company. GEELY Auto stated that this move aims to "better leverage the capabilities of professional talent and build a more professionalized team," representing a pivotal step in the company's evolution from founder-led to institutional- and team-driven governance.

Notably, although Li Shufu has exited GEELY Auto's board, he continues to serve as Chairman of GEELY Holdings and holds a 2.04% stake in GEELY Auto; GEELY Holdings — his controlling entity — owns 36.62% of GEELY Auto, preserving decisive strategic influence. GEELY Holdings' diversified business spans vehicle manufacturing (including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Proton, smart, and Aston Martin), mobility services, technology R&D (low-orbit satellites, low-altitude flight, automotive chips), finance, and education (GEELY Talent Development Group and multiple universities) — a vast ecosystem far from reaching a full generational handover.

In fact, this succession has long been in preparation: since founding Zhejiang Automotive Vocational & Technical College in 1997, GEELY has trained nearly 300,000 professionals; in 2002, family members were systematically removed from management; in 2003, the company went public; and in 2005, Li Shufu voluntarily stepped down as Director of the Group's Management Committee — laying a systematic foundation for de-familyization, professionalization, and institutionalized succession.

Across the industry, leadership transitions are accelerating. Seres Auto is now chaired by Zhang Zhengping, son of Zhang Xinghai; Wei Zihan of Great Wall Motors Auto has served as Chairman's Assistant for years and continues rotating through key roles; BYD Auto and Chery Auto have yet to disclose clear succession plans. Balancing strategic continuity with governance efficiency has thus become a defining challenge for China's leading automakers.