(Yicai Global) Sept. 7 --Wang Chuanfu,chairman and president of BYD,isperpetuallybusy, going frombeingalayman toanacedriver in the automobilefield,andfroman alpha geektoa conference maniac.Wang, affectionatelycalledbyBYD fans'Brother Boatman,'which is a punonhis name, firmlygraspsthe helmatBYD.

The world of a geek might be lonely, however. There areoften no fixed executives to accompany him when Wang shows upatvariousevents.Sometimes, he even travelsalonein economy class.

Wang Chuanfu has boldlydiverted thefirm's direction many times,frombatteries, toIT,toautomobilesandmonorailssince he founded BYD in 1995. He bet on technologyfrom the outset and then developedstrategiesaccordingly.To have just one personcalling all the shotssparedthe firmotherwisecumbersome procedures, which is one of the reasons whyBYD, a private enterprise,came torank firstin global new-energy vehicle sales in just over 20 years.

Thusfar it seems,a unique visionhas ledWang. Though BYDgrounded on rockbottom once, ithasneverstrucka reefon anycourseWangdirected it.Wang'sobsessionwithtechnologyand confidenceinstrategyhave nettedhima bevyof fans,both inside and outside thefirm.

The limitations of oneperson's abilitiesbegantobecome evident, however,with the expansion of BYD's cross-border business. Brother Boatmancame under evermorepressureholding thehelm.Wangannouncedin November 2017theshakeup ofthefirm'sstructure ata meeting ofseniorexecutives,in a bidto more quickly respondto the market throughthesereforms.

Wang Chuanfu isnowgradually delegating power lower down.Though he continues tomanagethe battery, new energy vehicle andmonorailsectors,hehas handed over the mature and stablesectorof ITand othersto Senior Vice President Wu Jingshengand othertopmanagement.

There is no second fiddle to Wang in BYD, but Wangdoes haveagoodgroup ofsecondmates.

Wu Jingsheng, comesfromWuweicounty,Anhuiprovince just like Wang. Hejoined BYDin 1995 andhastakencare ofcompanyfinancesfor Wangeversince. Wang Chuanfang,Wang'selder brotherjoined BYD in 1996andisincharge ofthedepartments of human resourceandlogistics,and thusWang Chuanfuneedhave no worries as hesailsinto storms.

Wang said that hejustwantedto"achieve the will of his mates"when herecentlyrecalledhisgoalsoffounding the firm.

Wangremainedkind to hismates who helped him starthis businessevenafteritbecame successful. Wu Jingshenggotpaidmorethan BYD'shelmsmanWang whentheformerserved as secretary of the board. BYD changed its senior executives Januarylast year, and one of the two newvicepresidents is Wang Chuanfang,who is alsoaBYD shareholder.

Wang Chuanfu, born in 1966, is still full of energy and has reliablematessharinghis burdens. He may not need to think about finding himself a successor for now.

Editor: Ben Armour