H World Group Limited Announces Change of Board Composition
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT) announced significant changes to its Board of Directors effective August 15, 2025. The company appointed Justin Martin Leverenz, former Chief Investment Officer at Invesco Developing Markets Fund, as a director, and Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), current CFO of SINA Corporation, as an independent director and chairwoman of the Audit Committee.
Additionally, Lei Cao was appointed to the Compensation Committee, while Tong Tong Zhao will transition from independent director to Board observer, and Jian Shang will step down from his positions as independent director, Audit Committee chairman, and Compensation Committee member.
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT) ha annunciato modifiche significative al suo Consiglio di Amministrazione con effetto dal 15 agosto 2025. La società ha nominato direttore Justin Martin Leverenz, ex Chief Investment Officer di Invesco Developing Markets Fund, e come membro indipendente del Consiglio e presidente del Comitato per la Revisione Contabile (Audit Committee) la Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), attuale CFO di SINA Corporation.
Inoltre, Lei Cao è stato nominato nel Comitato per le Retribuzioni, mentre Tong Tong Zhao passerà dal ruolo di amministratore indipendente a quello di osservatore del Consiglio, e Jian Shang si dimetterà dalle cariche di amministratore indipendente, presidente del Comitato per la Revisione Contabile e membro del Comitato per le Retribuzioni.
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT) anunció cambios significativos en su Junta Directiva con efecto a partir del 15 de agosto de 2025. La compañía nombró director a Justin Martin Leverenz, ex Chief Investment Officer de Invesco Developing Markets Fund, y a Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), actual CFO de SINA Corporation, como directora independiente y presidenta del Comité de Auditoría.
Además, Lei Cao fue designado en el Comité de Compensación, mientras que Tong Tong Zhao pasará de directora independiente a observadora de la Junta, y Jian Shang renunciará a sus cargos como director independiente, presidente del Comité de Auditoría y miembro del Comité de Compensación.
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT)는 2025년 8월 15일부로 이사회의 주요 변경 사항을 발표했습니다. 회사는 Invesco Developing Markets Fund의 전 최고투자책임자였던 Justin Martin Leverenz를 이사로 선임했으며, 현재 SINA Corporation의 재무책임자인 Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang)을 사외이사 겸 감사위원회 의장으로 임명했습니다.
또한 Lei Cao는 보상위원회에 선임되었고, Tong Tong Zhao는 사외이사에서 이사회 옵서버로 전환하며, Jian Shang은 사외이사, 감사위원회 의장 및 보상위원회 위원직에서 물러납니다.
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT) a annoncé des changements importants au sein de son conseil d'administration, effectifs au 15 août 2025. La société a nommé Justin Martin Leverenz, ancien Chief Investment Officer d'Invesco Developing Markets Fund, en tant qu'administrateur, et Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), actuelle directrice financière de SINA Corporation, comme administratrice indépendante et présidente du comité d'audit.
Par ailleurs, Lei Cao a été nommé au comité des rémunérations, tandis que Tong Tong Zhao passera du statut d'administratrice indépendante à celui d'observatrice du conseil, et Jian Shang démissionnera de ses fonctions d'administrateur indépendant, de président du comité d'audit et de membre du comité des rémunérations.
H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT) gab mit Wirkung zum 15. August 2025 bedeutende Änderungen im Vorstand bekannt. Das Unternehmen berief Justin Martin Leverenz, den ehemaligen Chief Investment Officer des Invesco Developing Markets Fund, als Direktor und ernannte Yi Zhang (Bonnie Yi Zhang), derzeit CFO der SINA Corporation, zur unabhängigen Direktorin und Vorsitzenden des Prüfungsausschusses.
Zusätzlich wurde Lei Cao in den Vergütungsausschuss berufen, während Tong Tong Zhao vom unabhängigen Direktor zum Beobachter des Vorstands wechselt und Jian Shang von seinen Positionen als unabhängiger Direktor, Vorsitzender des Prüfungsausschusses und Mitglied des Vergütungsausschusses zurücktritt.
- Appointment of experienced financial executive Justin Leverenz with extensive emerging markets expertise
- Addition of Yi Zhang brings strong financial oversight experience as current SINA CFO and former Deloitte audit partner
- New board members bring diverse experience from major public companies and financial institutions
- Loss of two independent directors could temporarily impact board independence ratio
SINGAPORE and SHANGHAI, Aug. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H World Group Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT and HKEX: 1179) (“H World” or the “Company”), a key player in the global hotel industry, today announced that the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) appointed, effective from August 15, 2025, (i) Mr. Justin Martin Leverenz (“Mr. Leverenz”) as a director of the Board; (ii) Ms. Yi Zhang (alias Bonnie Yi Zhang) (“Ms. Zhang”) as an independent director of the Board and the chairwoman of the audit committee of the Company (the “Audit Committee”); and (iii) Ms. Lei Cao, an existing independent director of the Company, as a member of the compensation committee of the Company (the “Compensation Committee”). Effective from the same date, Ms. Tong Tong Zhao (“Ms. Zhao”) will step down as an independent director of the Board to serve as an observer of the Board and Mr. Jian Shang (“Mr. Shang”) will step down as an independent director of the Board, the chairman of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Leverenz was the Chief Investment Officer and a Senior Portfolio Manager of Invesco Developing Markets Fund from May 2007 to July 2025. He joined Invesco Ltd. in 2019 when it combined with OppenheimerFunds. Mr. Leverenz managed the OppenheimerFunds Developing Markets Fund, which was renamed the Invesco Developing Markets Fund, beginning in May 2007. He was a Portfolio Manager at OppenheimerFunds from 2007 to 2019, having started in 2004 as a senior research analyst supporting Global Equity Strategy. Prior to joining OppenheimerFunds, Mr. Leverenz was a director of Pan-Asian Technology Research for Goldman Sachs in Asia, where he covered technology companies in the region. He also served as the Head of Equity Research in Taiwan, China for Barclays de Zoete Wedd and as a Portfolio Manager for Martin Currie Investment Managers in Scotland. Mr. Leverenz obtained his bachelor’s degree in Chinese Studies and Political Economy from the University of California and his master’s degree in international economics from the University of California. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charter holder.
Ms. Zhang has served as the Chief Financial Officer of SINA Corporation since March 2015. From March 2014 to March 2015, Ms. Zhang was the Chief Financial Officer of Weibo Corporation (NASDAQ: WB; HKEX: 09898), one of SINA’s subsidiaries. Prior to joining Weibo, Ms. Zhang was the Chief Financial Officer of AdChina Ltd., a company operating an integrated internet advertising platform in China, from May 2011 to February 2014. From October 2007 to April 2011, Ms. Zhang was an audit partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu based in Shanghai, with a focus on serving Chinese companies listed in the United States and Chinese companies making initial public offerings in the United States. Ms. Zhang has served as an independent director of Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG), a NYSE listed company since November 2020. Ms. Zhang has also served as an independent non-executive director of Swire Pacific Limited (HKEX: 0019), a Hong Kong-based international conglomerate with a diversified portfolio of market leading businesses since June 2022. Since February 2023, Ms. Zhang has served as an independent director of Hesai Group (Nasdaq: HSAI), a NASDAQ listed technology company. Ms. Zhang graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Business Administration from McDaniel College in Maryland in 1997. She is a member of the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Qi Ji, the Company’s founder and executive chairman of the Board, warmly welcomes Mr. Leverenz and Ms. Zhang to the Board. He believes that their talents and experience will greatly benefit H World’s long-term sustainable growth. Additionally, he would like to express his sincere gratitude to Ms. Zhao and Mr. Shang for their valuable contributions and dedicated service during their tenure as directors.
About H World Group Limited
Originated in China, H World Group Limited is a key player in the global hotel industry. As of March 31, 2025, H World operated 11,685 hotels with 1,142,158 hotel rooms in operation in 19 countries. H World’s brands include HanTing Hotel, JI Hotel, Orange Hotel, Crystal Orange Hotel, IntercityHotel, Hi Inn, Ni Hao Hotel, Elan Hotel, Zleep Hotels, Starway Hotel, CitiGo, Manxin Hotel, Madison Hotel, MAXX, Blossom House, Joya Hotel, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, Jaz in the City, Steigenberger Icon and Song Hotels. In addition, H World also has the rights as master franchisee for Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles, and co-development rights for Grand Mercure and Novotel, in the pan-China region.
H World’s business includes leased and owned, manachised and franchised models. Under the lease and ownership model, H World directly operates hotels typically located on leased or owned properties. Under the manachise model, H World manages manachised hotels through the on-site hotel managers that H World appoints, and H World collects fees from franchisees. Under the franchise model, H World provides training, reservations and support services to the franchised hotels, and collects fees from franchisees but does not appoint on-site hotel managers. H World applies a consistent standard and platform across all of its hotels. As of March 31, 2025, H World operates 8 percent of its hotel rooms under the lease and ownership model, and 92 percent under the manachise and franchise model.
For more information, please visit H World’s website: https://ir.hworld.com.
Contact Information
Investor Relations
Tel: +86 (21) 6195 9561
Email: ir@hworld.com
https://ir.hworld.com
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