Chinese home appliances and electronics giant Haier Group issued an announcement on Friday that Zhang Ruimin, the firm’s 72-year-old founder, volunteered not to participate in the nomination of new directors at the staff meeting.
It is reported that a new management committee and board of directors have been selected at this meeting. The new board of directors invited Zhang Ruimin back as an Honorary Chairman, elected Zhou Yunjie as Chairman and appointed him as CEO, also appointing Liang Haishan as President.
Public information shows that Zhou Yunjie graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in July 1988, and later joined Qingdao Refrigerator General Factory, the predecessor of Haier Group, in July of the same year. After years of career development, he served as Vice Chairman of the company board of directors and as President of Haier Group since 2016.
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Category Archives: Financial
Haier buy Fisher&Paykel Appliances Italy
Over the years Haier has been a fast-growing company in Europe thanks to organic growth and M&A, setting ambitious goals for growth and leadership.
Today another important milestone along the transformation journey is achieved as Haier Europe announces the acquisition of Fisher & Paykel Appliances Italy under the framework of an intra-company acquisition within the Haier Smart Home Group. This operation will extend the company’s products and brands portfolio and boosts the leadership in the Cooking and Built-in category.
Fisher&Paykel Appliances Italy is a historic company based in Borso del Grappa that has been producing cooking appliances for over 70 years. The Company owns the #Elba brand and markets #DeLonghi’s household appliances under license. Thanks to this acquisition, both De’Longhi and Elba will become part of the #HaierEurope brand portfolio.
They welcome 400 new colleagues that will join them and look forward to further growth together!
Currys team up with Uber
Currys Plc announced new rapid delivery via Uber a three month trial in London starts November 16th
Arcelik and Hitachi Thailand venture
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) Deputy Secretary General Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi together with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Thailand, H.E. Mrs. Serap Ersoy attended the opening ceremony of the Regional Headquarters of Arcelik Hitachi Home Appliances, a joint venture company between Turkish household appliance manufacturer Arcelik and Japanese’s home appliance manufacturer and distributor Hitachi Global Life Solutions. The regional HQ, which is located at Sathorn Square in downtown Bangkok, and was set up with help and support from the BOI, will oversee the marketing operations and after-sales services for affiliated companies in Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam
Midea Manchester City partnership
HOME appliances company Midea and Manchester City recently announced an amplification of its global partnership, which kicked off in January last year.
Throughout this partnership, Midea has produced engaging digital content, which has proved to be very popular with City fans around the world, most notably, the #MideaHomeChallenge which kept fans entertained during the several lockdowns.
GE $450 Investments
GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced plans to invest $450 million at its Appliance Park headquarters and manufacturing operation and add more than 1,000 new jobs by year-end 2023.
Meet AQUA/Haier the World’s Busiest Crossing
Known as the busiest crossroads globally, the famousShibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan, witnesses 2.5 million Japanese pedestrianspass through it every day. Amongst the high-rise buildings, the AQUA brandvideo of Haier Smart Home, making a big debut on the streets of Shibuya sinceOctober 18th, has come into view of passers-by.
In the video, the AQUA brand ambassador described AQUA’s long-term solutions to better the life for users, as well as the ongoing tenth-anniversary user feedback activities. AQUA campaigned the event, which ran from October 15th to December 31st, partnering with PayPay, Japan’s biggest mainstream payment network.
This event will not only take place on the streets of Shibuya, but will also make an appearance at 18 stations of JR Shinjuku, and Osaka Shinsaibashi, a shopping mall, in late October, garnering over 10 million impressions. And engage in substantial user interaction on major home appliance websites, Yahoo, users’ favorite reading matters, SNS and other platforms. Additionally, users may engage in considerable participation in this activity at 300 offline stores of the major channels. The current activity has been carried out for two weeks, but the retail promotion effect has already appeared. The pre-sale of newly launched high-end rollers has exceeded 100, and the weekend sales of ultra-thin TZ have also increased by nearly 50% compared to before the event.
Introducing the AQUA 10th Anniversary series of theme activities enhanced Japanese consumers’ awareness of the AQUA brand, increased their preference for AQUA, strengthened their connection with the channel, and pushed sales efficiently in the year-end. Following that, AQUA will continue to grow, always putting priorities on user requirements and giving back to users.
Haier Impressive results
Haier Smart Home published 3Q21 results. From January to September, the Company realized double-digit revenue growth and even faster profit expansion, with continued cost optimization as well as doubled cashflow.
In Japan, AQUA Freezers under Haier Zhijia achieved the No. 1
In Japan, the share of dual-brand freezers of Haier Smart Home continue to rank first. In September, AQUA freezers achieved No.1 sales for the first time, realizing “a new No.1”.
During the post-COVID-19 era, user needs have been amplified such as “requirements for home appliance design due to more time spent at home”, “increased demand for freezer storage” and other needs. AQUA EMC quickly found these changes and upgraded the products from premium and differentiation aspects.
The industry’s’thinnest’ freezer, with a width of 36cm, is able to fit into any space of user’s homes. COOL CABINET series support flexible switch among refrigeration, soft freezing and freezing functions, brings users the best using experience. The changing needs of users in different scenarios drives AQUA EMC to improve its product competitiveness. The release of differentiated products is constantly driving up the average unit price of AQUA freezers which have gradually realized its leading targets.
The release of premium products boosted the confidence of local entrepreneurs who actively took on more challenging goals. All nodes of the whole EMC overcame the difficulties and strove to maintain project continuity despite of suspended meetings, to ensure the products were launched on schedule. They also innovated “non-contact and zero-distance” user interaction, developed online contact points, and delivered product differentiation to users in digital ways.
As Yoshida san, Planning Director of AQUA freezers, said, “I have never think that we could become No.1 in Japan. We have overcome great challenges to get to this place, as this No.1 spot is hard-won and thus more exciting. Leadership is only possible by constantly challenging ourselves and pursing innovations.”
The breakthrough achieved by AQUA freezers drove the total share of dual-brand freezers in Japan up to 42% in Q3, with the primacy ratio exceeding 1.7, further cementing the market position of Haier series freezers in Japan. Going forward, the Japanese EMC will continue to adhere to the premium brand transformation and continuously evolve with the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
In Japan, Haier Zhijia’s AQUA Freezer achieved No. 1
In Japan, the share of dual-brand refrigerators under Haier Zhijia continued to maintain the No. 1 position. In September, AQUA Refrigerator achieved No. 1 in single-brand sales for the first time, achieving a “new one” breakthrough.
User-centric high-end transformation
With the advent of the post-epidemic era, new user needs such as “increasing time at home and increasing design requirements for home appliances” and “increasing demand for refrigerated storage” have expanded. AQUA Chain Group quickly caught these changes and iterated the products from the aspect of high-end differentiation.
The industry’s thinnest freezer can match any space in the user’s home with a width of 36cm; COOL CABINET series freezer refrigeration, soft freezing, and freezing modes can be switched freely to bring users the best experience. Changes in user needs in different scenarios drive the AQUA chain group to enhance product competitiveness,
and the investment in high-end differentiated products has also continuously increased the average unit price of AQUA refrigerators, gradually achieving industry leadership.
Goal challenge without using the epidemic as an excuse
The investment in high-end products has made local makers full of confidence and proactively challenge greater goals. All nodes in the entire chain have overcome the difficulties of the epidemic and insisted on “stop meeting and non-stop project” to ensure the smooth listing of products. At the same time, it innovated “non-contact and zero distance” user interaction, opened up online contacts, and delivered product differentiation to users in digital form.
As Junji Yoshida, the designer of AQUA refrigerators, said: “I never dared to think that I could achieve the first place in the kingdom of home appliances in Japan. After overcoming the challenge, the first hard-won, and it’s even more gratifying. Only insist on challenge and innovation. In order to achieve leadership.” The breakthrough of AQUA refrigerators brought the total share of Japan’s dual-brand refrigerators to 42% in the third quarter, with the first rate exceeding 1.7, which further consolidated the market position of Haier refrigerators in Japan. In the future, Japan Chain Group will continue to adhere to the mid-to-high-end transformation and continue to evolve with innovation and entrepreneurship
Electrolux warned it may struggle to meet demand
Electrolux warned it may struggle to meet demand through the rest of the year and into 2022 due to global supply-chain challenges, after its profit slumped in the third quarter as component shortages held back production.
Europe’s biggest home appliances maker said it still sees demand normalising above pre-pandemic levels but flagged limited availability of some product categories through the year, with regional variances.
“We continue to have a tight collaboration with suppliers to mitigate global supply shortages, but we estimate that the fourth quarter will be even more challenging than the third quarter,” the rival to Whirlpool said in a statement.
“Although we anticipate sequential improvements in 2022, we expect challenging conditions to remain in meeting continued strong demand.”
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