The relationship between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong
**Zhao Haijun Introduction**
Zhao Haijun is the CEO of SMIC, one of China’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. He holds a bachelor’s and doctorate degree in electrical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, as well as an MBA from the University of Chicago. Zhao joined SMIC in October 2010 and quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior executive. In April 2013, he was appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Later that same year, he took on the role of General Manager at the SMIC North Joint Venture.
On May 10, 2017, SMIC announced that its previous CEO, Qiu Ciyun, had stepped down for personal reasons. Zhao Haijun was then appointed as the new CEO, effective immediately. His leadership has been pivotal in guiding SMIC through a period of significant growth and technological advancement.
[Image: The relationship between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong]
**Liang Mengsong Introduction**
Liang Mengsong, aged 65, is a renowned figure in the semiconductor industry. He graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his Ph.D. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Prior to joining SMIC, Liang worked as a senior R&D director at TSMC from 1992 to 2009.
Although SMIC’s press release did not highlight his experience with TSMC or Samsung, it noted that Liang has over 33 years of experience in the semiconductor sector, focusing on memory and logic technologies. He has more than 450 patents and has published over 350 technical papers.
Liang’s wife, who is Korean, was also a semiconductor engineer. She once worked as a flight attendant before becoming a colleague in the U.S. During his 16 years at TSMC, Liang played a key role in advancing the company’s technology. For example, in 2003, TSMC successfully developed its 130nm copper process, which earned recognition from the Taiwanese government. At the time, Liang was responsible for advanced modules and ranked second in the R&D team, just below the senior vice president of R&D, Jiang Shangyi.
[Image: The relationship between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong]
**The Relationship Between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong**
On October 16, SMIC held an interim board meeting and officially announced that Liang Mengsong would become the co-CEO of the company, effective immediately. This decision ended months of speculation about his appointment and marked a significant shift in SMIC’s leadership structure.
Liang’s appointment introduced SMIC’s first “double CEO†system, a rare move within the Chinese semiconductor industry. Both Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong will report directly to the board of directors. According to SMIC’s announcement, Dr. Liang signed a director service contract starting on October 16, 2017, and ending at the 2019 annual general meeting. Additionally, he signed a labor contract for a three-year term as co-CEO.
As a co-CEO, Dr. Liang will receive an annual after-tax cash compensation of $200,000. While the equity portion of his compensation was not disclosed, the board emphasized that his remuneration aligns with SMIC’s policies.
With this change, SMIC’s board now includes four executive directors: Zhou Zixue (Chairman), Zhao Haijun (Co-CEO), Liang Mengsong (Co-CEO), and Gao Yonggang (CFO). This restructuring aims to enhance communication between the management team and the board.
In an interview, SMIC’s executive vice president and spokesperson, Li Zhi, stated that Liang’s involvement has brought fresh energy to SMIC’s technology development, service capabilities, and management practices. He added that both co-CEOs have committed to working together to achieve greater results than either could alone.
[Image: The relationship between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong]
**Liang Mengsong’s Influence on SMIC**
Liang’s technical expertise is widely recognized in the industry. At TSMC, he contributed significantly to the company’s success in the 130nm copper process. After joining Samsung in 2011, the company rapidly advanced to 14nm FinFET technology, showcasing his impact on process innovation.
At SMIC, Liang is expected to enhance the company’s 28nm node, improve mature processes, and accelerate the development of 14nm FinFET technology. SMIC plans to begin trial production in 2018 and scale up in 2019. For the 7nm node, the company is still in the early research phase, with EUV being a major challenge.
Industry observers are also watching whether Samsung might impose restrictions on Liang’s future career, similar to how TSMC handles its former employees. However, Li Zhi emphasized that SMIC has already conducted risk assessments and believes there is no current threat.
He also pointed out that while international talent restrictions are increasing, SMIC continues to attract overseas returnees. Liang’s low salary—$200,000 after taxes—suggests that his motivation is more about mission than money. SMIC’s growing influence in the global semiconductor market makes it an attractive destination for top talent.
[Image: The relationship between Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong]
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