Through the Glass: A Fireside Chat with Fuyao Founder Cho Tak Wong
Join us for an inspiring evening with Cho Tak Wong (Cao Dewang), founder and Lifetime Honorary Chairman of Fuyao Group and one of the most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists of his generation. From a small township factory in southeast China, Cho built Fuyao into the world's leading automotive glass manufacturer, supplying the likes of Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Toyota, while giving back nearly RMB 26 billion to charitable causes along the way. In this fireside chat, he will share the philosophy, conviction, and sense of social responsibility behind four decades of building, scaling, and giving.
Speaker Bio:
Cho Tak Wong, also known as Cao Dewang, is the founder and Lifetime Honorary Chairman of Fuyao Group, and an internationally renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist. Over the past four decades, he has grown Fuyao from a small township factory in southeast China into a major multinational industrial group, with manufacturing, sales, and research bases across 12 countries and 18 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Today the company ranks first in the world for automotive glass market share, with products used by Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others. Under his leadership, Fuyao has earned numerous accolades for innovation, including the China Quality Award and recognition as a National Innovation Demonstration Enterprise and Green Factory.
Guided by his motto of "respecting the law and giving back to society," Cho is one of China's foremost philanthropists, having donated nearly RMB 26 billion to date. In 2010 he established the Heren Charitable Foundation, the first and only national non-public fundraising foundation approved by China's State Council to be founded with financial assets and stocks, donating 300 million Fuyao Glass shares to do so. The foundation has since supported nearly 260 charitable projects. In 2021, at his proposal, Heren donated RMB 10 billion to establish Fuyao University of Science and Technology, dedicated to cultivating innovative talent.
His honours include the National Outstanding Individual in the Fight against COVID-19, the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Phoenix Award, the global glass industry's most prestigious prize. A pioneer of Chinese enterprise, Cho also proposed and helped establish China's first talent exchange market, introduced the independent director system to Chinese business, and was the first to win an anti-dumping case following China's entry into the World Trade Organization. He is widely recognised as a representative of Chinese entrepreneurship and the country's top philanthropist.
WHEN: Friday, 17th July 2026
10.30-11.30: Fireside chat Cao Dewang and Q&A
11.30-12.00: Tea & coffee and networking
WHERE: Provost Drawing Room, King’s College
Please note that this is a closed event and tickets are not currently available.
Please note that there will be photography and recording at this event.
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