Dec. 29 at 4:07 PM
$WRD some background on WeRide, and how Tony became CEO…
Jing Wang, is the founder and initial CEO of JingChi Technology (which later became WeRide), resigned on January 31, 2018, amid a lawsuit from Baidu alleging trade secret theft and non-compete violations from his prior role there.
Tony Han succeeded Jing Wang as CEO of JingChi Technology (in early 2018). Tony Han served as the company’s co-founder and CTO prior to the transition. Tony worked as Chief Scientist at Baidu’s Autonomous Driving unit until March 2017, where he contributed to key advancements before co-founding WeRide.
CTOs, with deep technical expertise, can drive innovation during scaling but may struggle with business strategy, fundraising, and market expansion without prior CEO roles.
Many founders fail due to over-reliance on technical skills, leading to high turnover. They often only suceed in scaling when they adapt by hiring complementary executives.