Board Of Directors
Tianfu Yang, Chairman of the Board
Since January 2005, Mr. Tianfu Yang has been the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Harbin Electric. From May 2003 until now, Mr. Yang has been the Chairman and CEO of Harbin Tech Full Electric Co., Ltd. From 2000 until now, he has been the Chairman and CEO of Harbin Tech Full Industry Co., Ltd. From 1994 to 2000, he was the President of Harbin Tianheng Wood Industry Manufacture Co., Ltd. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Yang was the President of Hong Kong Lianfa Real Estate Company. From 1988 to 1991, he was the President of Hong Kong Property Management Development. From 1986 to 1988, he was the President of Helongjiang Cultural Development Company and Guangzhou Subsidiary Company. Mr. Yang graduated from Zhejiang University with a Masters degree in Electric Motor Automation and Control. From 1978 to 1979, he was a professional member in the Heilongjiang Province Aeromodelling Team, twice becoming free-style aeromodelling champion in national competition. Mr. Yang is currently the commissioner of the China Electro-Technical Society (CES) in the Linear Motor and Electromagnetism Eradiation Specialist Committees. Mr. Yang is also a Deputy to the National People’s Congress representing Heilongjiang Province.
Lanxiang Gao, Board Member
Ms. Lanxiang Gao joined Harbin Electric in September 2007 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Shanghai Tech-Full Electric Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Ms. Gao worked as an engineer for Shanghai No.21 Research Institute, a research and development institution under the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group for over 30 years. She managed a development and production project of office automation motors in collaboration with Sankyo Seiki, Inc. of Japan for 10 years and served as the Senior Engineer managing micro motor research and development, with a focus on the development of specialty micro-motors of automobile seats for two years. Ms. Gao has won numerous government sponsored Science & Technology Progress Awards including a First Place Prize due to her outstanding contributions in the research and development of electric motors. Ms. Gao graduated from Zhejiang University, China with a major in Electrical Engineering.
Ching Chuen Chan, Board Member, Chairman of Nominating Committee
Mr. Ching Chuen Chan joined Harbin Electric’s Board of Directors on February 1, 2005 as an independent board member. Mr. Chan is an Honorary Professor at Hong Kong University’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. From 1976 through present, Mr. Chan earned many professorships in honorary, visiting and guest roles at world renowned institutions such as University of Hong Kong, Imperial College, London, Zhejiang University, Grenoble Polytechnic, France, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and Tsing Hua University, Beijing among others. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, U.K., the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Ukraine Academy of Engineering Sciences and a Fellow and Vice President of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences. He is also a Fellow of IEEE, IEE and HKIE lecturing on electric vehicles worldwide and in 2000 was awarded the IEE International Lecture Medal. In 2001, he was selected as one of Asia’s Best Technology Pioneers by Asiaweek. During his career, Mr. Chan has advised various projects for large corporations such as Ford Motor Company, Honda R&D Co Ltd., National Institute of Environmental Studies, Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan, as well as served as an advisor to government agencies. He is active in the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Mr. Chan graduated from Tsing Hua University in 1959 with a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and obtained his PhD in 1982 from University of Hong Kong. From 1959 through 1966, Mr. Chan started his career lecturing at China University of Mining & Technology. From 1967 through 1976, Mr. Chan held the position of Chief Design Engineer at the Shanghai Electric Machine Works.
David Gatton, Board Member, Chairman of Compensation Committee
Mr. David Gatton joined Harbin Electric’s Board of Directors on February 1, 2005 as an independent board member. Since 1985, Mr. Gatton has served as the Chairman and President of Development Initiatives, Inc, a Washington, D.C.-based government relations firm specializing in urban affairs, business development and marketing, serving a variety of public and private clients. Mr. Gatton advises cities, organizations, and companies on business development strategies, public/private partnerships and marketing initiatives. He has advised various organizations on tax reform, economic development initiatives and a variety of environmental laws, including the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Superfund and the Clean Air Act. Some of Mr. Gatton’s major accomplishments include: development of U.S.-Sino Memorandum of Cooperation between U.S. and China Association of Mayors, development of a national brownfield redevelopment initiative, development of several multifamily low- and moderate-income housing projects, business development strategies for various private firms, and assistance in development of economic development projects for numerous cities. Mr. Gatton holds a B.A. from Cornell College and a Master’s degree from Harvard University.
Yunyue Ye, Board Member
Mr. Yunyue Ye joined Harbin Electric’s Board of Directors in 2006 as an independent board member. Mr. Ye is currently a professor in Electrical Engineering at Zhejiang University, where he has taught for the past seven years. Mr. Ye also currently serves as Director of the Aerospace Electric and Electrical Motor Institute of Zhejiang University and Director of the Linear Motor Institute of the Chinese Electro-technical Society. Mr. Ye was also Council Member of the China Electro-technical Society. Mr. Ye graduated from Zhejiang University in 1978.
Boyd Plowman, Board Member, Chairman of Auditing Committee
Mr. Boyd Plowman joined Harbin Electric’s board of directors on December 1, 2009 as an independent board member. Mr. Plowman is the retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (“Fleetwood”) where he was employed from 1969 until 1987 and from 1997 until 2008. Fleetwood was the world’s largest producer of recreational vehicles and manufactured housing. During his career with Fleetwood, Mr. Plowman held numerous leadership positions including Controller, Treasurer, and Financial Vice President. During his second stint with Fleetwood, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until his retirement in 2008. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lee & Associates (Inland Empire Region). Lee & Associates is one of the leading commercial real estate brokerage firms in the United States. Prior to that, Mr. Plowman served as a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee for Corporate Insurance and Reinsurance Company Limited (CIRCL), a Bermuda-based company reinsuring risks for captive insurance companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Plowman worked as a senior tax accountant at Arthur Andersen & Co. and Ernst & Ernst. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and was a certified public accountant. Mr. Plowman resides in California. Mr. Plowman is the co-founder and President of Boyd Plowman & Associates, Inc., a firm involved in venture capital, merchant banking, and consulting services regarding real estate, capital formation, and financial services.