Huawei announced on its website that Ms. Meng Wanzhou will be the rotating chairman from April 1st to September 30th, 2023. During this period, she will be the highest leader, overseeing the board of directors and the executive committee. The rotational chairman system determines this.
Ms. Meng Wanzhou joined Huawei in 1993 after completing her master’s degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She has held many significant positions, including International CFO and President of the Accounting Management Department. Currently, she serves as the Vice Chairman, Rotating Chairman, and CFO.
The rotational term of the Huawei chairman is six months, and the current rotating chairman is Xu Zhijun, who will hold this position until March 31st, 2023. During his term, the company witnessed robust growth and development, making significant strides in the tech industry.
Ms. Meng’s appointment as rotating chairman comes at a challenging time for Huawei. U.S. sanctions have limited the company’s access to technology and affected its global market share. Additionally, concerns about Huawei’s technology being used for spying have led to scrutiny from several countries, which the company denies.
Industry experts have opined that Ms. Meng’s appointment as the rotating chairman is a strategic move aimed at strengthening Huawei’s leadership structure and improving its business prospects. They note that Ms. Meng’s extensive experience in finance and accounting will be vital in addressing the company’s financial challenges.
Ms. Meng’s appointment has also garnered attention as she was previously under house arrest in Canada for over two years. She was arrested in 2018 at the request of the U.S. government over allegations of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. However, in September 2021, she was released after reaching a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
