Shi Zhengrong on Business Philosophy

Shi Zhengrong — founder profiled in the Chinese Founder Ledger — is documented as follows: chinese-Australian solar-technology PhD who returned to China in 2001 with backing from the Wuxi city government to found Suntech Power, briefly became China's richest person after its 2005 NYSE listing at a peak $16 billion market capitalization, then was forced out as CEO in August 2012 and stripped of his chairmanship in March 2013 as the company collapsed into bankruptcy under $2.2 billion in debt. The profile is grounded in the 3 sources indexed for this founder.

After Suntech's 2005 NYSE listing, Shi became the richest person in China, with a peak net worth of $2.9 billion in 2008 (ranking No.

396 on Forbes' World's Billionaires List);, his post-listing wealth created a demonstration effect that prompted local governments across China to invest heavily in the solar industry.