They call him the Steve Jobs of China, and at first glance it seems a fitting tribute for the man behind the smartphone maker that last week became the most valuable start-up in the world.
Every year, dressed in jeans, trainers and an open-necked black shirt, Lei Jun stands before a cheering crowd to unveil the latest product of the company he founded half a decade ago. He certainly looks the part, framed by huge photographs of whatever he is peddling as he reels off the specifications. Once, just when the assembled fans thought the show was over, the words “One more thing” appeared in slender white letters on the looming black screen. Jobs used to use the same catchphrase when he made a final announcement to surprise the crowd.
A graduate of Wuhan university, one of the first in China to have a school of computer engineering, Mr Lei has lived and breathed technology all his adult life. He spent the early part of his career at Kingsoft, a Chinese software company that produced productivity software similar to Microsoft Office.