Over the past 15 years, Zhang Ruimin's leadership helped Haier Group successfully enter the global home appliances market as a "Made in China" brand. The company reached over 140 billion renmibi ($22 billion) in sales, and earned itself a place among the global high-end home appliances brands. Zhang's greatest achievement is his management philosophy, which is a combination of Western management experience and traditional Chinese philosophy.
His innovative management practices, which integrate supply chains, SBUs (strategic business units) and personnel, have provided a role model for other Chinese enterprises in management innovation. Zhang has earned himself the title of "Godfather of Business" in China and he was named one of "China's Most Influential Business Leaders" by Fortune China from 2005 to 2011.
