Z hang Xuexin is the founder and former chairman of Xinfa Group, a massive industrial conglomerate based in Chiping, Shandong province. He began his career at a state-owned power plant founded in 1972, eventually taking charge and transforming it into a private powerhouse. Under his leadership, Xinfa grew into one of the world's largest integrated aluminum producers, with operations spanning power generation, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting.

Zhang's business model emphasizes vertical integration, controlling everything from energy production to metal processing to maximize efficiency and profit margins. He has passed the chairmanship to his son, Zhang Gang, but remains a central figure in the company's legacy. The family's wealth is anchored in Xinfa's dominant position in the Chinese aluminum and chemicals industry, despite the sector's regulatory and environmental challenges.