A recent appointment has brought the relatively low-profile former richest man and GOME founder, Huang Guangyu, back into the public eye. It was noted that the Shenzhen Chaoshan Innovation Association (with Ma Huateng serving as its Honorary President) posted an article on its WeChat official account on January 1st, stating that a delegation led by the Association's President, Cai Wenchuan, visited the GOME Group and held discussions with the Group's Chairman, Huang Guangyu. Concurrently, Cai Wenchuan appointed Huang Guangyu as a Venture Mentor for the Shenzhen Chaoshan Innovation Association.
The article mentioned that both parties engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the development of the "GOME New Retail" project. The strategic layout for the digital innovation and upgrade of GOME Retail emphasized the company's determination to innovate and enhance its retail operations, proposing that through technology-driven initiatives and industrial synergy, GOME will continue to propel industry transformation and achieve a comprehensive digital transition.
Huang Guangyu stated, "GOME will continuously explore new models to provide consumers with higher-quality services and is committed to collaborating with various parties to jointly promote the sustained development of the retail industry."
It is understood that the Shenzhen Chaoshan Innovation Association is a young community organization aimed at nurturing the second generation of entrepreneurs and fostering innovation, providing a positive platform for young entrepreneurs to exchange ideas. The association supports young entrepreneurs by appointing venture mentors, establishing incubation bases, and organizing events such as dialogues with entrepreneurs within companies.
According to public information, Huang Guangyu was born in 1969 in Shantou, Guangdong. In 1985, the 16-year-old Huang Guangyu embarked on his entrepreneurial journey alongside his brother. In 1986, Huang Guangyu and his brother leased a storefront in Beijing to begin operating GOME Apparel. In 1987, GOME Apparel was officially renamed GOME Electrical Appliances, marking its entry into the home appliance retail sector.
Adopting a "small profits but quick turnover" business strategy, GOME Electrical Appliances rapidly established a foothold in the market. Under Huang Guangyu's management, GOME Electrical Appliances expanded significantly, growing its presence nationwide. In 2004, GOME Electrical Appliances successfully went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through a backdoor listing, leading to a substantial increase in Huang Guangyu's assets and the gradual formation of his commercial empire.
However, Huang Guangyu was investigated in 2008 for the crime of stock price manipulation. In 2010, he was sentenced to prison for economic crimes and served many years. In June 2020, Huang Guangyu was released on parole. In February 2021, Huang Guangyu delivered a public internal speech, stating, "We aim to restore GOME to its former market position within the next 18 months."
Subsequent actions saw GOME successively experiment with live-streaming e-commerce, unmanned retail, instant retail, and automotive retail, but the outcomes were less than ideal. Public information indicates that most of the listed platforms under Huang Guangyu's control have shown a downward trend. Among them, GOME Communications was delisted from the A-share market in February 2025. Only Zhongguancun (000931), which operates in the biomedical industry, appears to be in a relatively stable condition.
In early 2025, Huang Guangyu high-profile announced plans to open 10,000 community supermarkets within three years, attempting to capture community consumer traffic. In April, Huang Guangyu turned his attention to the new energy vehicle sector, with the first GOME Auto Market experience hall officially opening in Beijing's Xibahe. At the launch event, Huang Guangyu once again set an "18-month" target, proclaiming that the single-region GOME Auto Market experience hall was expected to achieve profitability in approximately 18 months.
In September 2025, Huang Guangyu extended his reach into the hydrogen energy field, first by establishing Beijing GOME Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., followed by an investment to set up Beijing GOME Hydrogen Source New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. with a registered capital of 10 million yuan. The business scope covers multiple areas, including energy storage technology services and new energy vehicle sales. According to media reports, he also attended the Hydrogen Energy Green Transportation Ecosystem Construction Conference in his capacity as Chairman of GOME Hydrogen Energy.
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