Board of Directors

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.

Shangzhi Zhang, aged 67, joined our Group and was appointed as a Director on June 24, 2016. Mr. Zhang is responsible for participating in decision making of important matters of our Group. Mr. Zhang has more than 30 years of experience in the hotel industry and in foreign trade. Mr. Zhang has been the executive director of Tianjin Amis Hotel Management Company since 2009. He acted as general delegate of Accor Hotel Group in China from January 1999 to December 2008, during which he was concurrently appointed as the executive director and general manager of Tianjin Accor Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (天津雅高酒店管理有限公司) in March 2003, and was responsible for brand Ibis’ development and operation in China. He successively served as head of manager office, assistant to general manager and deputy general manager at China Export Commodity Bases Development Corporation (中國出口商品基地建設 總公司), from January 1993 to 1998. Prior to that, Mr. Zhang held several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade of PRC (中華人民共和國對外經濟貿易部) from February 1978 to December 1992. He was third secretary of the Commercial Bureau of Chinese Embassy in Zaire from October 1981 to September 1985. Mr. Zhang graduated from the University of International Business and Economics (對外經濟 貿易大學) (formerly known as Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade (北京對外貿易學院)) in the PRC with a major in French in January 1978. He studied for “joint interpreting and conference service” program at the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels from September 1987 to February 1988 and the French National School of Administration (École Nationale D’administration) in France from 1990 to 1991. In 2014, Mr. Zhang received the medal award of “Chevalier de Legion d’honneur” from French government.

John Jiong Wu, aged 53, a co-founder of our Group, has served as our Director since January 4, 2007. Mr. Wu is primarily responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board. Mr. Wu also serves as a director of China Lodging Holdings Singapore Pte. Limited, a supervisor of HanTing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (漢 庭科技(蘇州)有限公司) and HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (漢庭 星空(上海)酒店管理有限公司), all of which are the subsidiaries of our Company. Mr. Wu is the founding partner and chairman of FengHe Fund Management Pte Ltd. He served as the venture partner of Northern Light Venture Capital and was an angel investor and the chief technology officer of Alibaba Group. Mr. Wu was a non-executive director of Viva Biotech Holdings (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code: 1873) from 2018 to 2020. Mr. Wu received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan in the United States in August 1989.

Tongtong Zhao, aged 53, a co-founder of our Group, has served as our Director since February 4, 2007. Ms. Zhao is primarily responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board. Ms. Zhao has served in several companies, including the supervisor of Shanghai Asia-Tang Health Technology Development Co., Ltd., the executive director of Shanghai Hong Ying Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., and the executive director of Shanghai Xie Cheng Science and Technology Co., Ltd..Ms. Zhao received her Master of Engineering degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上 海交通大學) in the PRC in March 1992 and her Master of Business Administration degree from McGill University in Canada in June 2003. She also obtained her bachelor’s degree with a major in biomedical engineering and instrument from Southeast University (東南大學) in the PRC in July 1989.

Jian Shang, aged 52, joined the Group and has served as our independent Director since May 5, 2014. Mr. Shang is primarily responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board. He has over 21 years of experience in corporate management and financial innovation. Mr. Shang has been the general manager of Hong Shang Asset Management Co., Ltd. since July 2013. From September 2006 to November 2012, he served as chief executive officer of UBS SDIC Fund Management Company. Prior to that, he served as chief executive officer of Yin Hua Fund Management Co., Ltd., deputy chief executive officer of Hua An Fund Management Co., Ltd, and head of strategic planning of Shanghai Stock Exchange respectively from January 2001 to June 2006. Previously, he was a deputy division director of China Securities Regulatory Commission (中國證監會). Mr. Shang has been an independent non-executive director of Shanghai Realway Capital Assets Management Co., Ltd. (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code: 1835) since October 2018. Mr. Shang obtained his PhD in business administration and master of arts in economics from University of Connecticut in the United States in December 1997 and December 1994, respectively, and his bachelor’s degree with a major in industrial and foreign trade from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大學) in the PRC in July 1989.

Theng Fong Hee, aged 66, was appointed as an independent Director of the Company on July 20, 2020. Mr. Hee is mainly responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board. Mr. Hee is a qualified advocate and solicitor in Singapore with over 30 years of experience. Mr. Hee has been a consultant of Harry Elias Partnership LLP since January 2014. Mr. Hee is a fellow of Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). He is also on the panel of arbitrators in various arbitration institutions including Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC), Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SIETAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC) and Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC). Mr. Hee is also an ambassador of Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and has been an accredited mediator of Singapore Mediation Centre(SMC) since March 2017. Mr. Hee serves as an independent director of several listed companies, including Zheneng Jinjiang Environment Holding Company Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: BWM) since June 2016, Straco Corporation Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: S85) since April 2016, Yanlord Land Group Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: Z25) since October 2017, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: G92) since April 2019, Haidilao International Holding Ltd. (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code:6862) since September 2018, Tye Soon Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: BFU) from May 1997 to June 2020, APAC Realty Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: CLN) from September 2017 to June 2020, First Resources Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: EB5) from October 2007 to May 2018, YHI International Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: BPF) from May 2003 to April 2018, and Datapulse Technology Limited (a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, stock code: BKW) from January 1994 to December 2017. Mr. Hee was also a director of Chinese Development Assistance Council from June 2012 to June 2018 and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre from May 2015 to September 2019. He has been a director of Chua Foundation of Singapore since March 2015, F&H Singhome Fund II Ltd. since April 2012, and F&H Singhome Fund III Ltd. since August 2015. Mr. Hee was awarded the Public Service Medal and Public Service Star awards by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore respectively in 2008 and 2015. He was also appointed as a Justice of the Peace in April 2018. Mr. Hee obtained his bachelor’s degree in law from National University of Singapore (formerly known as the University of Singapore) with honors in Singapore in May 1979 and also received a diploma in Chinese law from Soochow University (蘇州大學) in the PRC in October 2004. He has been admitted as an advocate and solicitor by the Supreme Court of Singapore since October 1981.

Ms. CAO Lei (曹蕾), aged 45, joined our Group and was appointed as independent Director on July 23, 2020. She is primarily responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board.

She has been the head of tax Greater China in Philips Electronic Singapore Pte Ltd. Since May 2012. Prior to that, Ms. Cao served as a senior tax director from January 2010 to May 2012 and a tax director from October 2007 to December 2009 in Philips China Investment Co., Ltd. She was also a tax director in Philips Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd from January 2006 to September 2007 and the senior tax manager in Philips China Investment Co., Ltd. from November 2003 to December 2005. Her primary role is to manage a team to provide tax solutions for Philips group in the responsible market, as well as to support and secure Philips groups interests and operations. Previously, Ms. Cao worked in Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP from September 1995 to October 2003 under various roles and her last position was a manager in the tax and business advisory department.

Ms. Cao received a bachelor’s degree with a major in international business management from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (上海財經大學) in the PRC in July 1995. Ms. Cao is a PRC Certified Public Accountants in December 2009, and is also a PRC Certified Tax Agent, who has obtained her qualification from Shanghai Certified Tax Agent Management Center (上海注冊稅務師管理中心) in June 2000.