Zhao became the ¡°young commander in chief¡± of the TV set giant at the age of only 37 in June 2000 when he was appointed as vice president and general manager of the company. He was even dubbed as ¡°China¡¯s first general manager with a postdoctoral background¡±.

    Zhao¡¯s career in Changhong seemed to go smoothly because of his ability and devotion to the company. But he had to give up the top position and even leave Changhong, where he had worked for seven years.

    The reason for his resignation was unclear and Zhao refused to make any comment about it. It was reported that Zhao had to leave mainly because of his disagreement with Ni in Chonghong¡¯s development strategies.

    Though Zhao had been in the top position for less than eight months, he enjoyed high prestige among researchers by awarding those who had made great achievements in research and development.

    Zhao turned down olive branches offered by TCL Corp. and Konka Group, two other major TV and mobile phone giants in China, and chose to stay in Mianyang as the city¡¯s vice mayor in charge of industry.

    Most people had thought Zhao had separated himself completely from Changhong and his career in the company had come to an end. But Zhao had never forgotten Changhong although he was not an employee of the company. It was reported that documents about Changhong could be found on Zhao¡¯s desk even at his busiest time in office.

    People always like to compare Zhao with his predecessor. In 1985, 41-year-old Ni became head of Changhong Machinery, the predecessor of Changhong. Nineteen years later, 41-year-old Zhao succeeded Ni as the company¡¯s president.

    Actually, Zhao differs a lot from Ni, who was one of China¡¯s most successful home appliance tycoons and the most powerful man in Changhong for twenty years.

    It was under Ni¡¯s management that Changhong became China¡¯s largest TV maker from a small State-owned factory developing and producing military-use and civil-use radars. Although Ni is blamed for some of Changhong¡¯s current troubles, his influence on the company cannot be ignored.

    Having worked as a teacher at Tsinghua University for two years, Zhao acts more like a scholar than a president of a large company. He is refined and gentle with his glasses and thin figure, a typical image of most professors in China.

    Last July, when Ni quit his position as the president of Changhong as he reached the retirement age of 60, Zhao was chosen as the new president.

    The adjustment was both unexpected and reasonable. Zhao¡¯s youth, courage, insight and especially his emotion and familiarity with Changhong distinguished him from the other candidates.