Skip to main content
← News Releases

Fortune Names Nexteer CEO Guibin Zhao a Global Business Leader

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – November 17, 2016Nexteer Automotive chairman, executive board director and chief operating officer Guibin Zhao was named one of the top global business leaders by Fortune. The annual “Businessperson of the Year” list ranked Zhao 30th worldwide, surrounded by Starbucks Coffee CEO Howard Schultz in 29th and General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic in 31st.

Since 2010, “Businessperson of the Year” annually screens executives based on key performance indicators including their companies’ 12- and 36-month profit, revenue and stock performance, adjusting for return on capital and debt. It also catalogues executives by their business influence, leadership style, strategic initiatives and other factors. In total, 10 metrics determine the top 50 global business leaders who deliver “true results” to their companies.

In its profile of Zhao, Fortune notes that since Zhao assumed the role of CEO in mid-2012, Nexteer’s revenues have increased 71 percent and the company has “quintupled its earnings.”

In his current role at Nexteer, Zhao is responsible for setting Nexteer’s strategic vision, direction and goals, along with the overall execution of the company’s strategy. He was appointed CEO in June 2012, followed by chairman and executive board director in June 2013. He is also director of Pacific Century Motors (PCM) Steering and chairman of the Board of Directors for several PCM subsidiaries.

This year’s number one executive was identified as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. For more information on “Businessperson of the Year” and other leading executives, visit fortune.com/businessperson-of-the-year/.

ABOUT NEXTEER
Nexteer Automotive – A Leader in Intuitive Motion Control – is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business delivering electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steering columns, driveline systems as well as advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous technologies for original equipment manufacturers. The company’s global workforce of over 13,000 serves more than 50 customers in every major region of the world. The company has 24 manufacturing plants, five regional engineering centers and 11 customer service centers strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, PSA Group, Toyota and VW, as well as automakers in India and China. nexteer.com