Lai Guochuan is a Chinese businessman and investor, and the majority shareholder and chairman of championship football club West Bromwich Albion.
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11 Facts About Guochuan Lai
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Guochuan Lai gained his wealth through his position as general manager and shareholder of Palm Eco-Town Development Company, which he developed from a small plant nursery business into China's largest landscape development and construction firm over his two decade long stewardship.
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Guochuan Lai is largely a private person; however, according to a report by the Birmingham Post, a loose estimate of his total wealth is £2.
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Guochuan Lai had left the day-to-day running of the club in the hands of long-term associates Li Piyue, who served as the club's chairman, and Ke Xu, who was Chief Executive Officer.
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Guochuan Lai served as General Manager of Palm Eco-Town Development Company Limited for over 20 years.
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Guochuan Lai helped grow the company from a plant nursery into one of China's largest and most successful landscape development and construction companies.
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Guochuan Lai stepped down from this role in 2014 to focus on private investment projects, yet retains a close link with Palm and remains director of a number of subsidiaries including Belt Collins International Limited, Palm Landscape Limited, Hangzhou Nanyue Palm Landscape Construction Limited and PALM Design Holding.
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In July 2016, Guochuan Lai agreed to purchase West Bromwich Albion FC from Jeremy Peace for a figure reported to be £200m.
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The deal was completed on 15 September 2016 and Guochuan Lai appointed former Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams as the new chairman of the club.
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Guochuan Lai's first season as Albion owner was a largely successful one, with the club managing a 10th place finish and Guochuan Lai personally endearing himself to fans in the early days of his ownership, through his decision to give every fan at the first away game of the season a free scarf, and every fan at the first home game of the season a free drink.
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Guochuan Lai had previously been interested in appointing Bilic following the sacking of Tony Pulis during Albion's relegation season.
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