iQIYI Announces Change in Executive Leadership
Rhea-AI Summary
iQIYI (Nasdaq: IQ) announced a change in executive leadership on January 20, 2026. Chief Financial Officer Jun Wang resigned effective that day for personal reasons and will serve as an advisor through May 31, 2026 to support the transition. Senior Vice President of Finance Ying Zeng was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer. The company said it will conduct an executive search for a permanent CFO. Management highlighted Jun Wang's role in strengthening the company’s capital structure and noted Ying Zeng’s prior involvement in the IPO and financing initiatives.
Positive
- Interim CFO Ying Zeng has IPO and financing experience
- Jun Wang will remain as advisor through May 31, 2026
- Internal promotion preserves leadership continuity during transition
- Company initiated executive search for permanent Chief Financial Officer
Negative
- Chief Financial Officer Jun Wang resigned effective January 20, 2026
- Interim appointment leaves permanent CFO role undetermined
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers show mixed, mostly modest moves, with one larger drop (CNK -4.28%). IQ’s -2.02% move appears more company-specific than part of a broad entertainment-sector trend.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18 | Q3 2025 earnings | Negative | +6.3% | Revenue decline and shift to losses versus prior-year profitability. |
| Oct 31 | Content launch | Positive | +1.8% | Launch of Season 2 of popular female-focused reality travel series. |
| Oct 21 | Earnings scheduling | Neutral | -1.8% | Announcement of Q3 2025 earnings release date and conference call. |
| Aug 29 | IP expansion news | Positive | +5.6% | Expansion into IP-based experiences, merchandise, and theme parks. |
| Aug 20 | Q2 2025 earnings | Negative | +0.9% | Double-digit revenue decline and swing to operating and net loss. |
Earnings releases with weakening fundamentals often saw positive price reactions, indicating a recurring divergence between headline fundamentals and immediate market response.
Over the past six months, iQIYI reported declining revenues and a shift back to losses in both Q2 and Q3 2025, yet shares often rose on these earnings days. The company also highlighted IP-driven growth beyond streaming, including merchandise and immersive theaters, and promoted new seasonal content like “The Blooming Journey” Season 2. Against this backdrop of strategic expansion but pressured financials, today’s CFO transition adds an additional layer of leadership change on the finance side.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights a key leadership transition as the long-serving CFO steps down and a seasoned internal finance executive assumes the interim role. The structured advisory period through May 31, 2026 suggests attention to continuity while a permanent successor is sought. In the context of recent revenue declines and a return to losses, investors may watch how the finance organization maintains capital structure discipline and supports strategic initiatives during this transition.
Key Terms
ipo financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
BEIJING, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) (“iQIYI” or the “Company”), a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China, today announced that Mr. Jun Wang has resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer, effective today, due to personal reasons. Concurrently, Ms. Ying Zeng, Senior Vice President of Finance, has been appointed as the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Jun Wang will continue on as an advisor to iQIYI to ensure a smooth transition, through May 31, 2026. The Company will conduct executive search of candidates for the Chief Financial Officer position.
“I am grateful to Jun for his dedicated service. Jun’s expertise and leadership have been instrumental in significantly strengthening our capital structure and establishing a more resilient financial foundation to support future value creation. On behalf of the Company and management team, I thank Jun for his invaluable contributions and wish him all the best. In addition, we will have Ms. Ying Zeng join our leadership team with her new role as the Company's Interim CFO. Her close involvement in the Company’s IPO and previous financing initiatives, along with her extensive experience in finance and deep familiarity with the business and management team, will be invaluable to the Company,” said Dr. Yu Gong, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
“It has been my honor to be part of the team, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together. I am confident that under the leadership of the current management team, iQIYI will continue to unlock new opportunities and achieve greater milestones in the future,” said Mr. Jun Wang.
Ms. Ying Zeng joined iQIYI in February 2017 and has served as the Senior Vice President of Finance since January 2022. Prior to that, she served as the deputy director of budget control and financial analysis department of Baidu, Inc. from June 2011 to February 2017. From June 2003 to May 2011, she served as a financial manager of eLong, Inc. Ms. Zeng obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wuhan University of Technology in July 1999 and a master’s degree in professional accounting from Peking University in June 2014.
About iQIYI, Inc.
iQIYI, Inc. is a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China. It combines creative talent with technology to foster an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. It produces, aggregates and distributes a wide variety of professionally produced content, as well as a broad spectrum of other video content in a variety of formats. iQIYI distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. Over time, iQIYI has built a massive user base and developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, online games, talent agency, experience business, etc.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations
iQIYI, Inc.
ir@qiyi.com
FAQ
Who is the new interim CFO of iQIYI (IQ) as of January 20, 2026?
Why did iQIYI CFO Jun Wang resign and what is his role after January 20, 2026?
How long will Jun Wang support iQIYI (IQ) after resigning as CFO?
Will iQIYI (IQ) hire a permanent CFO after the interim appointment?
What relevant experience does Ying Zeng bring to the interim CFO role at iQIYI (IQ)?
Does the leadership change at iQIYI (IQ) signal an immediate change in financial strategy?
