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Fang Hongbo

Chairman and President, Midea

Search every verified Fang Hongbo interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Fang Hongbo, Chairman and President of Midea Group, discussed the company's evolution and strategy in a 2026 interview for the Guangdong Radio and Television series "Ideas Illuminating Lingnan." He reflected on Midea's transformation from a township enterprise into a Fortune Global 500 company, citing its 2016 acquisition of German industrial robot maker KUKA as a significant breakthrough, though he noted that the takeover approach initially drew criticism. He stated that Midea's success stems from adapting to external changes, maintaining a humble approach, and avoiding fatal mistakes, while emphasizing that the company's future success depends on achieving technological advancement and expanding beyond home appliances into areas like industrial automation and robotics. He also mentioned that Midea's overseas revenue must exceed 50% of total revenue for the transformation to be considered successful. In earlier interviews from 2017 and 2018, Fang outlined Midea's international expansion and robotics strategy. He said the company aimed for overseas markets to contribute 45–50% of revenue, with a goal of exceeding domestic revenue within three years. He described plans to apply KUKA's expertise in car manufacturing to general manufacturing, and to enter sectors such as electric vehicle batteries and pharmaceuticals, including a partnership with Guangzhou Pharmaceutical for automated drug stores and hospital distribution systems. Fang also noted that Midea was not planning large-scale acquisitions in the near term, focusing instead on integrating existing businesses, while remaining open to opportunities in household building systems and manufacturing. He mentioned investments in a Silicon Valley R&D center focused on AI and robotics, including a stake in a voice recognition startup.

Recent appearances

  • Ideas Shining on Lingnan | A Conversation with Fang Hongbo: How Can Businesses Navigate Cycles an...

    July 02, 2026 · 📺 Touch

    #TouchNews #GuangdongRadioandTelevision Starting June 27th, Guangdong will launch the "Ideas Illuminating Lingnan" video series across its online platform. The first episode features a dialogue with Fang Hongbo, Chairman and President of Midea Group Co., Ltd. How long does it take to go from a township enterprise to a Fortune Global 500 company? From manufacturing fans to manufacturing robots, what's the secret? In a rapidly changing world, how can enterprises navigate economic cycles and achieve lasting success? Let's listen to Fang Hongbo's story! ► Playlist:    • 思想耀岭南|【欢迎订阅】：https://b…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Inside Midea Group's Plans

    March 09, 2018 · 📺 Robotics

    The impact of robots...from KUKA acquisition (2016)...to spur Midea's palns for automation. Interview with Paul Fang, Group Chairman and CEO of Midea Group.

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Midea Group CEO on Health Sector, Robots, Expansion

    November 01, 2017 · 📺 Bloomberg Television

    Nov.01 -- Paul Fang, chairman and chief executive officer at Midea Group, the world's largest appliance maker, talked to Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie about the company's push into health sector, its robot business strategy and international expansion plan, in his first ever international TV interview.

    Watch on YouTube ↗

The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →