Qi Ji, aged 53, founded our Group, and was appointed as a Director on February 4, 2007. Mr. Ji has also served as the Executive Chairman of our Board since August 2009, and our Chief Executive Officer since November 2019. He is primarily responsible for the overall strategic planning of our Group and the management of our Group’s business. Mr. Ji also serves as a director in China Lodging Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd and China Lodging Investment Limited, all of which are subsidiaries of our Company. Mr. Ji has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to his current role, he also served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 2012 to May 2015 and from 2007 to August 2009. He co-founded Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. and served as its chief executive officer from 2002 to January 2005. He also co-founded Trip.com (a company listed on the NASDAQ, ticker symbol: TCOM), one of the largest online travel services providers in China, in 1999, acted as its chief executive officer and president until 2001, and currently serves on Trip.com’s board as an independent director. Mr. Ji received his bachelor degree in engineering mechanics and master degree in mechanical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大學) in the PRC in 1989 and February 1992, respectively.