Hisense Group Holdings' home appliance division has appointed Gao Yuling, the former chief financial officer, as its new chairperson. This marks a generational shift, with top management now consisting of leaders in their 40s and early 50s, rather than those nearing 60.
At 42, Gao succeeds Dai Huizhong, 58, who resigned due to age and personal reasons, Foshan-headquartered Hisense Home Appliances Group announced yesterday. Dai will remain a director.
"It is natural for the new to take over from the old," Dai told Yicai today. “Young people are more energetic and motivated, and this change will benefit the company’s long-term development”.
Before her appointment, Gao held several key roles at Hisense Home Appliances, including director and chief accountant. She also served as the general manager and deputy chief accountant of a department at the parent company, according to public information.
Dai became chairman and president of Hisense Home Appliances in October 2021. However, Hu Jianyong, 50, replaced him as president in February 2023.
Even the parent has been promoting talent under 60. Last year, Jia Shaoqian, former president of Hisense who was 51 then, replaced Lin Lan, 65, as chairman. In July 2023, Jia appointed Yu Zhitao, 47, as the group's new president.
Hisense Home Appliances manufactures refrigerators, air conditioning units, and washing machines. In the first three quarters of this year, the company's net profit rose 15 percent year-over-year to CNY 2.8 billion (USD 386.4 million), while revenue grew 9 percent to CNY 70.6 billion (USD 9.7 billion).