Terry Gou step away Foxconn operations to prepare younger ones for industry

The head of Foxconn Technology Group says he is planning to step away from day-to-day operations at the world's largest electronics provider. Terry Gou told reporters Monday at an event in Taipei that he wants to work on a book about his management philosophy honed over 45 years and prepare a younger generation to eventually take over operations at the company.

Foxconn counts Apple, Google and Amazon as customers and has said it will build a manufacturing facility in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The 69-year-old Gou said he would continue to guide the "major direction" of Foxconn, but would "gradually step back from the front-line operations." He said he felt "I should tone down my personal influence" in company matters and leave more time for long-term planning.