Yao Yiming takes Guangzhou Honda top executive job

Shanghai, August 1 (Gasgoo.com) Yao Yiming, director and deputy general manager of Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Guangzhou Auto and Honda Motor, took the place of Fu Shoujie today as the executive vice general manager of the joint venture, announced the company on August 1. 

Three weeks ago, Guangzhou Honda appointed 48-year-old Fu Shoujie as chairman of the board of directors, keeping his position since 2006 as the executive vice general manager, and meanwhile Yao Yiming, former general manager Guangzhou Automobile Group Business Co., Ltd., was appointed as deputy general manager of the venture. The previous chairman of the board, Lu Zhifeng resigned from his position for another appointment.

The management personnel change is associated with the expansion of the venture, which started extending its operations from car manufacturing and sales to R&D, engine and auto-parts from 2007. It also marks the acceleration of the company's dual-branded "grand Guangzhou Honda" system. 

Guangzhou Honda made and sold 295,000 vehicles in 2007, and the venture aims to sell 340,000 vehicles this years. The company said today that the appointments of top executives will speed up its growth in China's auto industry.