Ning Gaoning | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
宁高宁 | |||||||
| Born | (1958-11-09)9 November 1958 (age 67) | ||||||
| Other names | Frank Ning | ||||||
| Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh Shandong University | ||||||
| Occupation | Manufacturing executive | ||||||
| Years active | 1987–present | ||||||
| Title | Chairman ofSyngenta | ||||||
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 宁高宁 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 寧高寧 | ||||||
| |||||||
Ning Gaoning (Chinese:宁高宁; born 9 November 1958), also known asFrank Ning, is a Chinese manufacturing executive.
In 2023, he resigned as chairman ofSinochem, remaining chairman ofSyngenta.[1]
He was born inBinzhou,Shandong on 9 November 1958.[2]: 111 He graduated from Shandong University with a bachelor's degree in economics and earned an MBA from theUniversity of Pittsburgh'sKatz School of Business.[2]: 111
After returning to China from the United States, Ning joined a centralstate-owned enterprise,China Resources.[2]: 111 Ning eventually became its Chairman.[2]: 111 During his career at China Resources, he led over 30 major mergers and acquisitions.[2]: 111
In 2004, theCentral Organization Department transferred him to be the Chairman ofChina National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO).[2]: 111 Ning initiated approximately 50 mergers while leading COFCO.[2]: 111
He is also the Chairman of Hong Kong Building and Loan Agency Limited and Deputy Chairman ofChina Vanke company Limited. Ning has been recognized five times as one of the 25 most influential business leaders byChinese Entrepreneur magazine.[3] In 2009, Ning was named Asia Business Leader of the Year byCNBC Asia Pacific.[4] In November 2012 Ning was elected as a member of theCentral Commission for Discipline Inspection.
In January 2016 he was succeeded as COFCO's head by Zhao Shuanglian.[5] That year, Ning became the Chairman andParty Secretary ofSinochem.[2]: 111
In 2017, Ning implemented an "in science we trust" strategy for Sinochem.[2]: 111 Through this strategy, Sinochem focused on innovation, industrial upgrading, and investment.[2]: 111 The enterprise focused on its core business of petrochemicals and chemicals, investing, and a limited diversification in agriculture, real estate, and finance.[2]: 111–112
Ning was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors ofSyngenta on 16 July 2018.[6]
When ChemChina's chairmanRen Jianxin retired in July 2018, Ning was appointed chairman of ChemChina, while retaining his chairmanship of Sinochem Group.[7] In September 2020 he confirmed thatChemChina and Sinochem Group were discussing a merger. At the time, he was chairman of both companies.[8] As a consequence of his resignation on October 8, 2022 from Sinochem holdings,Pirelli & C. S.p.A. announced he'd also resigned from all roles held on the company's board of directors.[9] In March 2023, he was succeeded as chairman of Sinochem Holdings byLi Fanrong. Ning remained chairman ofSyngenta.[1]
Ning has made frequent media appearances.[2]: 111 He has written numerous books, including a collection of essays titledWhy?[2]: 111
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zhou Mingchen (周明臣) | Chairman ofCOFCO Group 2004–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairman ofSinochem 2016–2018 | Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by | Chairman ofChemChina 2018–2022 | Succeeded by Position revoked |