Global firms that changed top execs after China biz hurdle

Zheng Jinlan preparing to speak during the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou on Nov 24, 2012.[Photo/CFP]

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd

President of the sports car distribution company in China Jenny Zheng Jinlan retired after the large-scale global recall in 2014 due to substandard materials in accelerator pedal arms.

Zheng joined Aston Martin Lagonda (China) Automobile Distribution Co in 2012 as the president, and Aston Michael Mingshan Peng assumed the president position on Feb 1.

In February 2014, the company started a recall of 17,590 cars, including all of its left-hand-drive models built since November 2007, and all right-hand-drive models built since May 2012, affecting about 75 percent of all vehicles built in that period.

The British luxury carmaker blamed the safety problem on a subcontractor in Guangdong province for using sub-standard plastic material in making accelerator pedal arms.