The original leaders of Moutai planted their heels, and the liquor rivers and lakes made waves again
The name Gao Weidong was once a dazzling star in the Chinese liquor industry.
But who would have thought that the former leader of the Moutai Group is now in prison and has become a prisoner.
This drama of ups and downs in life is really embarrassing.
At the beginning of 2024, the verdict of Gao Weidong's corruption case has finally settled. Life imprisonment, which is the final sentence when the gavel falls. For a while, the entire liquor circle exploded. Everyone is discussing, why did this once powerful Moutai boss be planted like this?
From an ordinary boy to a wine industry tycoon, Gao Weidong's life is open
Speaking of Gao Weidong's origins, he is really not prominent. This young man from Dengzhou, Henan Province, after graduating from Guizhou Institute of Technology, plunged into Guizhou's official career. From the Guiyang Economic and Technological Development Zone to the Guizhou Provincial Department of Transportation, Gao Weidong climbed up step by step.
In 2015, Gao Weidong landed in Moutai and served as the deputy general manager of Moutai Liquor Co., Ltd. This step can be said to be a turning point in his life. In just 5 years, he has made great progress all the way, and finally ascended to the throne of chairman of Moutai Group in 2020.
This buddy's resume is simply an inspirational script! From an ordinary college student to the top of the liquor industry, Gao Weidong took less than 20 years. I have to say that this kind of ability and courage is really admirable.
It's a pity that this "godfather of Moutai" can't withstand the temptation of money after all. It is said that during his tenure in office, Gao Weidong took advantage of his position to frantically accumulate wealth, and the amount of money he accepted from others was frighteningly large. Although the specific number has not been disclosed, it can be sentenced to life imprisonment, which is really not a small amount!
The "earthquake" of the liquor rivers and lakes, Moutai's stock price fell endlessly
After the incident of Gao Weidong's east window, Moutai suffered a big blow. In the spring of 2022, as soon as the news of Gao Weidong's investigation came out, Moutai's stock price plummeted like a roller coaster.
I remember watching the news at the time, Moutai's stock price fell by nearly 10% in one day, and its market value evaporated by tens of billions. Tsk, that's a big loss! Many shareholders wailed on the Internet, saying that their "Moutai dream" was shattered.
To be honest, as an ordinary person, I feel a little gloating when I see an accident with an executive of such a large company. But after thinking about it, Moutai is a well-known enterprise in our country, and if it really collapses, it will be a big blow to the entire liquor industry and even the national economy.
The chain reaction of Gao Weidong's case has put everyone in the liquor circle at risk
The impact of Gao Weidong's case is not limited to Moutai. The entire liquor circle was shaken.
It is said that many executives of liquor companies have begun to self-examine and self-correct, for fear that they will also follow in Gao Weidong's footsteps. Some industry insiders broke the news that some wine companies even canceled some large-scale activities and business entertainment, for fear of being gossiped.
This matter has made a lot of trouble, and even some industries that can't compete with liquor are nervous. I've heard that some companies have even begun to re-examine their anti-corruption systems, for fear that one day they will also have a "Gao Weidong".
But then again, this "deterrent effect" is not a good thing. At least let those who are ready to move restrain themselves, and dare not easily defy the law.
Looking at the anti-corruption case from the perspective of Gao Weidong's case, there is a long way to go
The verdict in Gao Weidong's case is undoubtedly another major achievement in the mainland's anti-corruption work. However, the case also exposed some deep-seated problems.
For example, why can an executive like Gao Weidong make a fortune in a big company like Moutai without being discovered? Is Moutai's internal supervision system so vulnerable?
For another example, Gao Weidong climbed step by step from an ordinary person to the position of the leader of Moutai, are there some improper transactions in the middle? I am afraid that these questions are worthy of our deep thought.
In the final analysis, the anti-corruption work still depends on the system. It is not enough to catch a few big tigers, the key is to establish a long-term mechanism so that those who want to reach out dare not reach out and cannot reach out.
Where does Moutai go from here? The future of the liquor industry is still unknown
The dust has settled on Gao Weidong's case, but the future of Moutai and the entire liquor industry is still full of uncertainty.
Moutai, as a leading enterprise of Chinese liquor, is hurting its muscles and bones this time. Although the new leadership team has now changed, it may take some time to recover and regain consumer confidence.
However, having said that, Moutai has a strong foundation and strong brand influence after all. As long as the new management can learn from the pain and learn the lessons, there may not be no chance of a comeback in the future.
As for the entire liquor industry, the Gao Weidong case is undoubtedly a wake-up call. It is hoped that major wine companies can take this as a warning, strengthen internal management, and avoid similar scandals.
In the final analysis, to do business, we must be down-to-earth and operate with integrity. If you want to make a fortune by relying on crooked ways, you will only harm others and yourself in the end. Gao Weidong's lesson hopes to give everyone a profound enlightenment.