Corporate Structure and Characters
Page updated to Chapter 4.
Corporate Structure
Assigned CEO is set in an aviation technology company called 天青 航空 科技 集团 (pinyin: Tiānqīng hángkōng kējì jítuán), literally “Sky Azure Aviation Technology Group”, which is a corporate group consisting of the core company Sky Azure (Tianqing), along with various Sky Azure subsidiaries.
The organizational structure is sort of similar to the typical Anglo-American corporate governance model, where you have a
- Board of directors, which is elected by the shareholders
- Executive directors (C-suite executives) from inside the company
- Non-executive directors (external directors) from outside the company
- C-suite / C-level executives, the top management of the company, in charge of day-to-day operations
In addition, there is a supervisory board, which is specific to China.
Board of Directors
Made up of 9 directors elected by the shareholders. Other than the chairman, three of the directors are executives from the core company Sky Azure. The remaining five seats seem to be occupied by leaders of subsidiaries.
Before the start of the story:
Liang Chongzheng was the second chairman of Sky Azure, and he held a significant amount of shares. Tang Litao was previously an executive director and part of the first chairman’s camp. When Liang Chongzheng became the chairman and made his chosen successor Wu Zhaoguang the GM, Tang Litao stepped down voluntarily and gave his seat to Wu Zhaoguang.
After the start of the story:
The chairman’s seat and one director’s seat have been vacated. Tang Litao is expected to reclaim his seat as executive director because it was his originally, and he has a good relationship with Liang Chi, Liang Chongzheng’s son who inherited the majority of his shares and is not involved in the company.
Supervisory Board
The chairman of the supervisory board is the Chief Scientist, Dr. Song. He is considered part of the first chairman’s camp, like Tang Litao. He was chosen as chairman of the supervisory board because he is not involved in the business side of the group, so he doesn’t have complex interests or relationships. There are three members of the supervisory board (the other two members are unknown).
Management
In Assigned CEO, the highest executive position in Sky Azure is the General Manager in charge of the whole group, equivalent to a CEO or President in US / UK companies. Below the General Manager are the Vice GMs, who are all considered upper management, the equivalent of the C-suite or Vice President positions in US / UK companies.
Directly below the Vice GMs are Directors of specific departments. In many companies, this would be considered the lowest level of upper management but at Sky Azure, this position is considered middle management.
The company secretary, Chen Xi, is also considered an executive / upper management, in charge of ensuring the board of directors is in compliance with laws and regulations.
Because Sky Azure is a corporate group with a (probably) complicated ownership structure, the Vice GMs do not all have the same amount of power. For example, the male lead Tang Litao is relatively powerful because he was previously an executive director on the board, he was an early hire with shares, and he controls several of Sky Azure’s subsidiaries on top of his position as a Vice GM.
Before the start of the story:
After the start of the story:
Main Characters
Main character (shou): He Jianzhen
Name: 贺见真 (pinyin: Hè Jiànzhēn)
The surname 贺 (Hè) means to congratulate. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 见 (jiàn) means to meet, to see, an opinion or a view. The character 真 (zhēn) means true, genuine, real, and sharp. It is also used as an intensifier, meaning the same as really. Put together, his name has a meaning of “seeing the truth” or “facing the truth”, which matches with his relatively straightforward and honest personality.
Nicknames:
小贺 (pinyin: Xiǎo Hè) – Little He, this is how He Jianzhen is addressed by his superiors.
真真 (pinyin: Zhēnzhēn) – Zhenzhen, a certain someone’s cute pet name for He Jianzhen.
Age: 35
Position: Interim General Manager of Sky Azure Group
At the beginning of the story, He Jianzhen is promoted to interim General Manager of Tianqing Group, with all the rights and responsibilities of the GM, except he is not allowed to participate and vote in board meetings. In Sky Azure, the General Manager is the second-highest ranking position after the chairman of the board of directors, and the highest executive position. In other companies, this position is equivalent to CEO, or President.
Address: 贺总 (Hè-zǒng)
Previous position: 行政 总监 (xíngzhèng zǒngjiān) – Director of Administration
His direct superior was Zhu Li, the Vice GM in charge of the Administration Department. This position is middle management (below executive). Because his department was in charge of logistics, it was not considered an important position at the company.
Address: 贺 总监 (Hè-zǒngjiān)
Career trajectory:
Intern -> ??? -> (Administrative Department) Assistant Manager -> (Administrative Department) Manager -> (Administrative Department) Director -> (Sky Azure Group) General Manager
Male lead (gong): Tang Litao
Name: 唐礼涛 (pinyin: Táng Lǐtáo)
The surname 唐 (Táng) is the same Tang as in Tang dynasty. It is sometimes used as a synonym for Chinese people. It also has some literary meanings but generally it is just read as a surname, without meaning. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 礼 (lǐ) means ritual, the rules of propriety, and paying someone respect or courtesy. The character 涛 (táo) means large and billowing waves, or the sound of waves.
Nickname: 财神爷 (pinyin: Cáishén yé) – Lord God of Wealth, people in the company call him this because he’s in charge of the entire corporate group’s sales.
Age: 46
Position: Vice General Manager of Sales and Marketing
Second highest executive position after General Manager, and equivalent to C-suite executives in American companies. Previously, he was also an executive director on the Board of Directors, but he voluntarily vacated his seat for General Manager Wu. He has very high seniority in the company, because he was recruited straight out of university by the first chairman, in the early 90s. He has shares in the company, and he is in charge of several of Tianqing Group’s subsidiaries, on top of his position as a Vice GM. He also has a close personal relationship with the second chairman, Chairman Liang.
Address: 唐总 (Táng-zǒng)
Supporting Characters
He Tong
Name: 贺彤 (pinyin: Hè Tóng)
The surname 贺 (Hè) means to congratulate. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 彤 (tóng) is a literary word for red, or vermillion.
Nicknames:
彤彤 (pinyin: Tóngtōng) – Tongtong, a standard diminutive. He Jianzhen calls his daughter this.
Age: 10
Background: He Tong is He Jianzhen’s adopted daughter. Her mother was He Jianzhen’s distant relative, a young single mother who couldn’t raise her, so He Tong was left with He Jianzhen’s grandparents. He Jianzhen decided to adopt her when she was 5 years old, because his grandparents were in their 80s. Before He Jianzhen adopted her, she was thrown around between her other relatives.
Chen Xi
Name: 陈希 (pinyin: Chén Xī)
The surname 陈 (Chén) is the same Chen as in Chen dynasty. It is a very common surname, one of the top 10 most common in China. The character 希 (xī) means to hope, to strive, or to admire.
Age: ??
Position: Company Secretary
This position is also considered an executive position in Sky Azure Group. Chen Xi is in charge of board regulations, making sure the company is compliant with board processes, convening board meetings, and so on. He has a background in financial analysis. Although he speaks without a filter and easily offends other people, he is presumably good at his job, and even wins an award for Best Company Secretary of the Year.
Address: 陈总 (Chén-zǒng)
Wei Ning
Name: 韦宁 (pinyin: Wéi Níng)
The surname 韦 (Wéi) means to surround. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 宁 (níng) means peaceful, serene, tranquil. Her name is quite similar to her personality, as she is a very calm and steady person.
Age: ~52-53
Her exact age isn’t given but she is 2-3 years away from retirement age, which is 55 years old for white-collar workers in China.
Position: Office Manager of the General Manager’s Office
Translates to Director of the General Manager’s Office, but I decided to translate it as “Office Manager” to avoid confusion with the other Director-level positions. She is in charge of the secretaries of the General Manager’s Office. Although it is not a very high-ranking role, Wei Ning is very respected and has some power in the company due to her seniority. She remained in the role for three GMs without being replaced, which shows how trusted she is.
Address: 韦主任 (Wéi-zhǔrèn)
Translated it as “Office Manager” or “Manager” to avoid confusion.
Dr. Song
Name: 宋 (pinyin: Sòng)
The surname 宋 is the same Song as the Song dynasty. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China.
Age: 60s
Position: Chief Scientist
Dr. Song is the Chief Scientist, a “pure” technical route researcher who works mainly in the lab. He is considered a pillar of the R&D department, and has been working in R&D since the first chairman started the company. He is a returnee with a double doctorate.
Secondary position: Supervisory Board Chairman
He was picked for this position because he isn’t very involved with the business side of the company, so he doesn’t have complex interests or relationships.
Address: 宋博士 (pinyin: Sòng bóshì) – Dr. Song
Zhu Li
Name: 祝力 (pinyin: Zhù Lì)
The surname 祝 (Zhù) means to bless or to offer good wishes. It is not one of the 100 most common surnames in China (but still falls within the top 150). The character 力 (lì) means force, power, strength, or might.
Age: ??? (older than Tang Litao)
Position: Vice General Manager of Administration
Second highest executive position after General Manager, and equivalent to C-suite executives in American companies. He was He Jianzhen’s direct superior, before He Jianzhen’s promotion to GM.
Address: 祝总 (pinyin: Zhù-zǒng)
Xu Xinchang
Name: 徐新昌 (pinyin: Xú Xīnchāng)
The surname 徐 (Xú) means calm, quiet, and composed. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 新 (xīn) means new. The character 昌 (chāng) means prosperous and flourishing.
Age: ???
Position: Vice General Manager of R&D, Dean of the Research Institute
Second highest executive position after General Manager, and equivalent to C-suite executives in American companies. He was hired relatively late, directly into his current position. Although his academic qualifications are not good, he has a PhD from the National University of Defense Technology. He came out of the Air Force, and he has many military connections, which is useful for the company. He has a straightforward and rigid personality.
Address: 徐总 (pinyin: Xú-zǒng)
Minor Characters
Liang Chongzheng
Name: 梁崇正 (pinyin: Liáng Chóngzhèng)
The surname 梁 (Liáng) means bridge or roof beam, and it is the same Liang as the state of Liang and the Liang dynasty. It is one of the 100 most common surnames in China. The character 崇 (chóng) means lofty, sublime, to worship, to fill, accumulate or grow. The character 正 (zhèng) means upright and proper.
Age: 59
Position: 董事长 (dǒngshìzhǎng) – Chairman of the Board of Directors
In the past, Chairman Liang was the most important person in the company, elected chairman of the Board of Directors, and the de facto person in control of the company. He was the second chairman of Tianqing Group, and he owned a significant proportion of shares in the company, which were inherited by his son Liang Chi. Zhu Li, the VP in charge of the Administration Department, and Wu Zhaoguang, the previous General Manager, were his direct reports, and considered part of his camp.
Address: 梁董事长 (Liáng-dǒngshìzhǎng) – Chairman Liang
Wu Zhaoguang
Name: 吴兆光 (pinyin: Wú Zhàoguāng)
The surname 吴 (Wú) means to speak loudly, to shout, and it is the same Wu as the historical states. It is a very common surname, one of the top 10 most common in China. The character 兆 (zhào) means an omen, to portend, a graveyard or necropolis. The character 光 (guāng) means light or glory.
Age: ??
Position: General Manager of Sky Azure Group
The general manager of Sky Azure Group, and Chairman Liang’s chosen successor. Tang Litao voluntarily vacated a seat on the Board of Directors for him, when he became the general manager.
Address: 吴总 (Wú-zǒng)
Chen Suwen
Name: 陈素文 (pinyin: Chén Sùwén)
The surname 陈 (Chén) is the same Chen as in Chen dynasty. It is a very common surname, one of the top 10 most common in China (Not 100% certain this is her surname. See the footnote in chapter 2). The character 素 (sù) means white, plain, original, and unadorned. The character 文 (wén) means language, literature, and refinement. Her last name is unknown.
Age: 40s
Address: 吴太太 (Wú-tàitài), 陈夫人 (Chén-fūrén), 素文姐 (Sùwén-jiě)
Wu-taitai and Wu-furen are honorifics meaning that she married into the Wu family, kind of like Mrs. Wu. Chinese women typically don’t take their husband’s surname, so her surname is unknown. Suwen-jie means older sister Suwen, a less formal way to refer to a woman who is older than you, or your boss’s wife.
Background: General Manager Wu’s wife.
Brand Department Manager
Name: ???
Age: ??? (relatively young)
Position: Manager of the Brand Department
Because Sky Azure is a traditional industrial enterprise, the marketing budget is relatively low, and the brand department manager is sidelined. She tries to promote new ideas but the leadership doesn’t understand.