Mr. Xiao Shengli, Chairman of Tianshui Huatian Technology Co., Ltd., Mr. James E. Thompson, GBS, Chairman and Founder of Crown Worldwide Group named Chinese mainland winner and Hong Kong/Macau winner for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2024 awards

EY is pleased to announce that Mr. Xiao Shengli, Chairman of Tianshui Huatian Technology Co., Ltd., has been named the Chinese mainland winner, and Mr. James E. Thompson, GBS, Chairman and Founder of Crown Worldwide Group, the Hong Kong/Macau winner for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2024 awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of new quality productive forces and leading industrial innovation. Promoting the economic transformation and advancement of China, the winners have built a globally competitive industrial ecosystem through forward-looking strategic and continuous innovation, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of Chinese entrepreneurs in this new era.

Jack Chan, EY China Chairman and EY Greater China Regional Managing Partner, says: “We are amidst an era marked by profound transformation and boundless ingenuity, where those who embrace innovation are best positioned to thrive. Confronting the significant challenges of our era with determination, this year's award winners Mr. Xiao Shengli and Mr. James E. Thompson remain committed to their vision, addressing the aspirations of both the people and the nation, seizing early-mover advantages and demonstrating exceptional acumen for navigating change. Their unwavering emphasis on quality and dedication to innovation forge a harmonious synergy of enhanced quality, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and sustainable growth, making a significant impact on the landscape of new quality productivity. Their visionary thinking and pragmatic approaches have lit the way for industrial transformation. Here, on behalf of EY, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the winners, and I look forward to their success in the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ next year, where they will show the world the innovative vitality and appeal of Chinese enterprises in the development of new quality productivity.”

EY Entrepreneur Of the Year™ 2024 – Chinese mainland winner:
Mr. Xiao Shengli
Tianshui Huatian Technology Co., Ltd. Chairman

Since graduating from university in 1970 and beginning his career at the former state-owned Yonghong Device Factory, Mr. Shengli Xiao’s journey has been marked by resilience, vision, and transformative leadership. Initially, the factory experienced moderate success, yet the tides of reform and fierce market competition soon cast the enterprise into dire straits. In 1994, amid this turbulence, Mr. Shengli Xiao was appointed as factory director. With unwavering resolve, he rallied the workforce to reclaim the company’s vitality, steering Yonghong from the brink of financial collapse—overcoming annual deficits exceeding 10 million yuan and nearly 100 million yuan in debt—to a resurgent profitability within four years.

During a critical juncture of strategic evolution, Mr. Shengli Xiao’s foresight and resourceful strategies were exemplified by channeling limited resources into advancing the plastic encapsulated integrated circuit sector, enhancing its scale and production capacity. This decisive pivot marked a landmark in the company’s second phase of entrepreneurship. In subsequent years, the company devoted itself to integrated circuit packaging and testing, driving successive waves of technological enhancement. These ambitious undertakings fueled substantial advancements in packaging proficiency, production scale, and profitability. Under Mr. Shengli Xiao’s leadership, the company swiftly fortified its economic performance and market position, ascending from near insolvency to become the third-largest integrated circuit packaging and testing enterprise in China’s mainland and the sixth-largest on the global stage.

Beyond his remarkable business acumen, Mr. Shengli Xiao has been an ardent proponent of corporate social responsibility. He has spearheaded initiatives such as organizing employee participation in voluntary blood donation, contributing funds and resources to disaster-stricken areas, aiding COVID-19 relief efforts, and supporting underprivileged communities. His philanthropic endeavors have earned widespread commendation from government bodies, diverse societal sectors, and employees alike, establishing him as a paragon of leadership with a profound social conscience.

Guided by an unwavering commitment to high-quality growth propelled by technological innovation, Mr. Shengli Xiao continues to steer HT-tech with a relentless focus on excellence. He champions continuous innovation in management, products, and services, all while strategically expanding into international markets, diversifying business areas, elevating the technological sophistication of core operations, and augmenting market value. His vision is steadfast: to cement HT-tech’s standing as the premier name in China’s integrated circuit packaging and testing industry.

EY Entrepreneur Of the Year™ 2024 – Hong Kong/Macau winner:
Mr. James E. Thompson, GBS
Crown Worldwide Group Chairman and Founder

Mr. James E. Thompson embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 1965, later relocating the company to Hong Kong in the 1970s, where it was officially rechristened as Crown Worldwide Group. Over the course of nearly six decades in Hong Kong, Crown, under Mr. Thompson’s visionary leadership and imbued with the resilient and indomitable “Lion Rock Spirit”, has ascended to the forefront of global logistics and warehousing, extending its services across 45 nations. In recognition of his exemplary contributions, Mr. Thompson was awarded the prestigious Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2003 and honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Business Awards in 2014.

Beyond its core operations, Crown, under Mr. Thompson’s stewardship, has garnered the trust of governmental institutions, esteemed museums, and private collectors for the transportation of invaluable documents, artworks, and rare collectibles across vast distances. A testament to this trust was Crown’s instrumental role in the meticulous and seamless transportation of two giant pandas as part of the commemorative events surrounding Hong Kong’s return to China.

Mr. Thompson is steadfast in his dedication to cultivating a positive and forward-thinking corporate ethos. His commitment is reflected in his service as chairman and board member of numerous charitable organizations, particularly those devoted to children’s welfare, cancer research, education, and the arts. He ardently encourages Crown’s employees to participate in volunteer efforts globally, nurturing a culture of giving back to local communities. Under his guidance, Crown has also made environmental sustainability a priority, emphasizing carbon reduction and responsible practices. This commitment to excellence was further recognized in 2014, when Crown was named “Hong Kong’s Best International Company” by the international awards hosted by DHL and the South China Morning Post.

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About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 79 countries and regions.