CNBC AI Exclusive – Gree Electric Chairman Dong Mingzhu and former rising executive Meng Yutong are set to reunite in a live-streaming event this Thursday, marking their first public appearance together since widespread speculation about their professional rift in 2022.
The Chinese appliance giant confirmed the collaboration through a social media teaser captioned “Long Time No See,” scheduled for May 23 at 7:00 PM local time. The announcement follows Meng’s recent Weibo post revealing a private message exchange with Dong, which garnered over 15 million views within hours.
Notably, Meng addressed controversy during the social media buzz, responding to accusations of comment censorship on her posts. “Legal actions have been initiated against baseless allegations,” she stated, though specifics of the claims remain undisclosed.
Behind the reunion lies a strategic blueprint. Corporate registry data shows Gree secured trademarks for both “Meng Yutong” and “Mingzhu Yutong” across financial services, advertising, and tech sectors in 2022 – a move coinciding with Meng’s rapid ascent as China’s most-discussed Gen-Z executive. At her peak, the former “protege” commanded $38,500 per sponsored social media post, amassing 1.46 million followers on Xiaohongshu.
The collaboration’s timing raises eyebrows given previous reports of tensions, with skeptics labeling it “calculated brand theater.” Social media reactions range from cynical (“Desperate for traffic”) to bewildered (“This corporate drama needs subtitles”).
Industry analysts suggest the spectacle underscores Gree’s bid to blend executive star power with Gen-Z marketing clout. “This isn’t just about appliances – it’s a masterclass in personal branding economics,” noted Beijing-based retail strategist Li Wei. “The real product here might be the soap-opera twist itself.”
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