Dong Mingzhu and Wang Zirui's "GREE Tiger": Truth and Speculation

Dong Mingzhu and Wang Zirui's "GREE Tiger": Truth and SpeculationTwenty days ago, GREE held a new product launch conference in Shijiazhuang. After the conference, Dong Mingzhu, surrounded by her executives, took a night tour of the Rongguo Mansion, the filming location for "Dream of the Red Chamber

Dong Mingzhu and Wang Zirui's "GREE Tiger": Truth and Speculation

Twenty days ago, GREE held a new product launch conference in Shijiazhuang. After the conference, Dong Mingzhu, surrounded by her executives, took a night tour of the Rongguo Mansion, the filming location for "Dream of the Red Chamber." Wang Zirui also accompanied her without any hesitation. However, half a month later, Wang Zirui suddenly resigned without explanation. More surprisingly, on the seventh day after Wang Zirui's resignation, Dong Mingzhu announced her retirement plan for next year, saying that she would "pass the baton to the younger generation and rely on them to make GREE a century-old company."

The departures of these two important figures from GREE in quick succession inevitably bring to mind the rumors circulating online about the "GREE Tiger." The rumors originated from an interview on Guangdong TV last November, which was intended to showcase GREE's corporate spirit but sparked a huge controversy due to the interaction between Wang Zirui and Dong Mingzhu.

In the video, Wang Zirui frequently throws out "golden quotes." First, he says, "I haven't seen GREE's paychecks, I don't care about money," and then, "I hope GREE gives me an office closer to the CEO" and "It's a happy thing to see her go to work every day." Dong Mingzhu, who is usually known as a strong woman, seemed to be staring at Wang Zirui like a young girl, further fueling speculation.

The "GREE Tiger" quickly exploded online, with various jokes and rumors surfacing. Wang Zirui was dubbed "Pearl in the Mouth," "Free to Come and Go," and was even rumored to be "living off a woman" and "being kept."

Two months later, GREE sued the media outlets that spread false rumors, clearing the air for the individuals involved. However, Wang Zirui's image was already severely damaged, and he was privately called "Tiger" within GREE.

To clarify the rumors, Wang Zirui and Dong Mingzhu frequently appeared together at public events, without intentionally avoiding each other. In May this year, GREE held a launch conference for its refrigerators and washing machines in Luoyang. Dong Mingzhu, along with a group of female entrepreneurs, wore Hanfu dresses while strolling through the streets, and Wang Zirui appeared on camera recommending Hanfu styles to Dong Mingzhu. However, this seemingly forceful self-defense only led to more ridicule.

Now, the two leaving GREE at such a close time naturally raises speculation. Aside from being caught in the whirlwind of rumors, Wang Zirui's departure may be related to the resistance he faced with the channel reform he was responsible for at GREE. It is said that he had been working secretly at GREE for two years, and his sudden interview last November may have been an attempt to counter the negative impact of Meng Yutong's resignation. However, this interview instead ignited a much larger storm.

Channel reform is a major undertaking for GREE Group, with its core being the reclamation of pricing power held by distributors across various regions and the establishment of a unified ordering system. The benefits of this reform include a faster response to market changes and greater price transparency. However, it also cuts off the financial path for major distributors, leading to discontent.

The online ordering system Wang Zirui was responsible for building faces many challenges, including issues related to financial security, transaction chains, delivery, and after-sales service. Some distributors complained that Wang Zirui, in order to prevent parallel imports, installed two passwords on each air conditioner, increasing installation time and costs. More importantly, the GREE platform's ordering process is cumbersome, and the refund speed is slow, failing to match the convenience and efficiency of e-commerce platforms.

When communicating with distributors, Wang Zirui emphasized the importance of online channels and urged them to embrace change. However, distributors are concerned about their real-world interests, believing that the reform will affect their survival. Last year, a group of Hebei distributors who had partnered with GREE for 20 years collectively switched to Philips, pushing Wang Zirui into the spotlight.

The location where Dong Mingzhu announced her retirement is Hebei. She simultaneously appeased the distributors, stressed the necessity of reform, and promised to refine the details.

Perhaps Wang Zirui was Dong Mingzhu's "scapegoat," bearing the brunt of the negative impact brought on by the reform, ultimately leading to his departure. Dong Mingzhu then stepped in to appease the distributors, allowing the reform to proceed smoothly.

Wang Zirui's departure is regrettable. His overly forceful approach undoubtedly paved the way for his damaged image, but he also contributed to GREE's reform. Now, the "GREE Tiger" that was Wang Zirui and Dong Mingzhu has become a thing of the past, but whether it was a tale of "love" or "interest" remains a secret known only to those involved.

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