Recently, observant netizens have noticed another significant business shift within Xiaomi Group.

Wang Chuan, who served as the legal representative, executive director, and general manager of Shanghai Xiaomi Information Technology Co., Ltd., has announced his resignation. He will be succeeded by Zhang Jianhui, the Vice President of Xiaomi Group.

Image source: Tianyancha

Public records reveal that Wang Chuan is not just a co-founder of Xiaomi Group but also a long-time friend of Lei Jun, with whom he has been acquainted for over two decades. China Entrepreneur magazine reported that the two met as early as 2004 and frequently indulged in skiing together during their vacations.

A computer science graduate from Beijing University of Technology, Wang Chuan has been an entrepreneur for many years. He initially founded Leishi Technology, which swiftly grew to become China's largest audio-visual entertainment equipment company. Subsequently, he established Duokan Technology and led the team in developing a Duokan system for AppleTV.

In 2012, following Xiaomi's acquisition of "Duokan," Wang Chuan became the eighth co-founder of Xiaomi.

Leveraging his extensive experience in the hardware supply chain, Wang Chuan immediately began working on Xiaomi Box upon joining Xiaomi. This move significantly disrupted the traditional TV set-top box market, and within just two years, Xiaomi Box secured a 21.1% market share.

Following the success of Xiaomi Box, Wang Chuan swiftly took charge of Xiaomi TV. After a five-year endeavor, Xiaomi TV shipments surpassed the 3 million mark in the fourth quarter of 2018, securing the top position in China.

However, Wang Chuan, who was instrumental in creating popular products such as Xiaomi Box, TV, and speakers, appears to have gradually retreated from the spotlight in recent years. For instance, from late 2023 to January 2024, he resigned from his positions as general manager of Xiaomi Communications Technology Co., Ltd., and executive director of Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd., leaving the team under the leadership of Qu Heng, a member of the post-80s generation.

This transition will be facilitated by Zhang Jianhui, who was promoted to Vice President of the Group this year, potentially confirming this shift in leadership.