Zhihu Inc. Announces Change of Independent Director
Zhihu (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), a leading Chinese online content community, announced the appointment of Dr. Li-Lan Cheng as an independent director effective May 27, 2025. Dr. Cheng will serve as chairman of the audit committee and member of compensation, nomination, and corporate governance committees. He replaces Mr. Hanhui Sam Sun, who resigned due to other professional endeavors.
Dr. Cheng brings extensive financial and corporate governance experience, currently serving as executive director and CFO of E-House. His background includes leadership roles at Leju, SouFun Holdings, and SOHO China, along with board positions at multiple NASDAQ-listed companies. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT and is a CFA charterholder.
Zhihu (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), una delle principali comunità online di contenuti in Cina, ha annunciato la nomina del Dott. Li-Lan Cheng come direttore indipendente a partire dal 27 maggio 2025. Il Dott. Cheng assumerà la carica di presidente del comitato di revisione contabile e sarà membro dei comitati per la remunerazione, la nomina e la governance aziendale. Sostituisce il Sig. Hanhui Sam Sun, che si è dimesso per dedicarsi ad altri impegni professionali.
Il Dott. Cheng porta con sé una vasta esperienza in ambito finanziario e di governance aziendale, ricoprendo attualmente il ruolo di direttore esecutivo e CFO di E-House. Il suo percorso professionale include posizioni di leadership presso Leju, SouFun Holdings e SOHO China, oltre a incarichi nel consiglio di amministrazione di diverse società quotate al NASDAQ. È in possesso di un dottorato in Economia conseguito al MIT ed è titolare della certificazione CFA.
Zhihu (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), una destacada comunidad china de contenido en línea, anunció el nombramiento del Dr. Li-Lan Cheng como director independiente con efecto a partir del 27 de mayo de 2025. El Dr. Cheng asumirá la presidencia del comité de auditoría y será miembro de los comités de compensación, nominación y gobierno corporativo. Reemplaza al Sr. Hanhui Sam Sun, quien renunció por otros compromisos profesionales.
El Dr. Cheng aporta una amplia experiencia en finanzas y gobierno corporativo, desempeñándose actualmente como director ejecutivo y CFO de E-House. Su trayectoria incluye cargos de liderazgo en Leju, SouFun Holdings y SOHO China, además de formar parte de los consejos de administración de varias empresas cotizadas en NASDAQ. Posee un doctorado en Economía del MIT y es titular de la certificación CFA.
Zhihu (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390)는 중국의 대표적인 온라인 콘텐츠 커뮤니티로, 2025년 5월 27일부터 리란 청 박사를 독립 이사로 선임했다고 발표했습니다. 청 박사는 감사위원회 위원장과 보상, 지명, 기업 지배구조 위원회의 위원으로 활동할 예정입니다. 그는 다른 전문적 활동으로 인해 사임한 한후이 샘 선 씨를 대신합니다.
청 박사는 풍부한 금융 및 기업 지배구조 경험을 보유하고 있으며 현재 E-House의 전무이사 겸 CFO로 재직 중입니다. 그의 경력에는 Leju, SouFun Holdings, SOHO China에서의 리더십 역할과 여러 NASDAQ 상장 기업의 이사회 멤버 경력이 포함됩니다. MIT에서 경제학 박사 학위를 받았으며 CFA 자격증을 보유하고 있습니다.
Zhihu (NYSE : ZH ; HKEX : 2390), une communauté chinoise en ligne de premier plan, a annoncé la nomination du Dr Li-Lan Cheng en tant qu'administrateur indépendant à compter du 27 mai 2025. Le Dr Cheng assumera la présidence du comité d'audit et sera membre des comités de rémunération, de nomination et de gouvernance d'entreprise. Il remplace M. Hanhui Sam Sun, qui a démissionné pour poursuivre d'autres activités professionnelles.
Le Dr Cheng apporte une vaste expérience en finance et en gouvernance d'entreprise. Il est actuellement directeur exécutif et directeur financier (CFO) d'E-House. Son parcours comprend des postes de direction chez Leju, SouFun Holdings et SOHO China, ainsi que des mandats au sein de conseils d'administration de plusieurs sociétés cotées au NASDAQ. Il est titulaire d'un doctorat en économie du MIT et est détenteur du titre de CFA.
Zhihu (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), eine führende chinesische Online-Content-Community, gab die Ernennung von Dr. Li-Lan Cheng zum unabhängigen Direktor mit Wirkung zum 27. Mai 2025 bekannt. Dr. Cheng wird als Vorsitzender des Prüfungsausschusses fungieren und Mitglied der Ausschüsse für Vergütung, Nominierung und Corporate Governance sein. Er ersetzt Herrn Hanhui Sam Sun, der aufgrund anderer beruflicher Verpflichtungen zurückgetreten ist.
Dr. Cheng bringt umfangreiche Erfahrung im Finanzwesen und in der Unternehmensführung mit und ist derzeit Executive Director und CFO von E-House. Zu seinem Hintergrund zählen Führungspositionen bei Leju, SouFun Holdings und SOHO China sowie Vorstandsmandate bei mehreren an der NASDAQ gelisteten Unternehmen. Er hat einen Doktortitel in Wirtschaftswissenschaften vom MIT und ist CFA-Charterholder.
- Appointment of highly qualified director with extensive financial expertise and corporate governance experience
- New director brings diverse experience from multiple public companies in China
- Seamless transition in audit committee leadership with immediate replacement
- Loss of experienced board member Sam Sun could impact continuity
- Multiple concurrent board positions of new director could limit time commitment
BEIJING, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zhihu Inc. (“Zhihu” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), a leading online content community in China, today announced the appointment of Dr. Li-Lan Cheng as an independent director of the Company. Mr. Hanhui Sam Sun has resigned as an independent director of the Company, due to other professional endeavors. These changes are effective on May 27, 2025. For the committees under the board of directors, Dr. Li-Lan will serve as the chairman of the audit committee as well as a member of the compensation committee, nomination committee, and corporate governance committee.
Dr. Li-Lan Cheng is currently an executive director and chief financial officer of E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Limited (formerly known as Fangyou Information Technology Company Limited) (HKEX: 2048) (“E-House”). He served as acting chief financial officer of Leju from 2017 to 2023, and was its executive director from 2014 to 2017. Dr. Cheng served as the chief operating officer of E-House (China) Holdings Limited (formerly NYSE: EJ) from 2012 to 2018 and its chief financial officer from 2006 to 2012. Prior to joining E-House, he served as the chief financial officer of SouFun Holdings Limited, an online real estate service company in China, from 2005 to 2006. From 2002 to 2004, Dr. Cheng served as an executive director and the chief financial officer of SOHO China Limited, a real estate developer in Beijing. Dr. Cheng was an assistant director and the head of the Asian transportation sector investment banking group of ABN AMRO Asia from 1997 to 2002. From 1995 to 1997, Dr. Cheng was a senior analyst at the National Economic Research Associates, Inc., an economic and financial consulting firm in New York. From 1989 to 1991, he was an investment trainee and analyst at the Prudential Investment Corporation, the institutional investment subsidiary of the Prudential Insurance Company of America based in Newark, NJ. Dr. Cheng is an independent director and audit committee chairman of Yunji Inc. (NASDAQ: YJ), a Nasdaq-listed social e-commerce platform in China. He also served as an independent director and on the audit committee of 51job, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: JOBS), LAIX Inc. (formerly NYSE: LAIX), Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd. (formerly NYSE: CCSC), and Le GAGA Holdings Limited (formerly NASDAQ: GAGA). Dr. Cheng received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. degree in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Cheng is a chartered financial analyst (CFA).
“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to extend our gratitude to Sam for his years of extraordinary service, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said Mr. Yuan Zhou, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Company. “We would also like to warmly welcome Dr. Li-Lan Cheng to our board. Dr. Cheng brings deep expertise in finance and corporate governance, and his fresh perspective will be tremendous assets for us. We look forward to working together closely as we execute on our strategic goals.”
About Zhihu Inc.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390) is a leading online content community where people come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have fun. Since the initial launch in 2010, Zhihu has grown into the largest Q&A-inspired online content community in China. For more information, please visit https://ir.zhihu.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to,” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Zhihu Inc.
Email: ir@zhihu.com
Christensen Advisory
Roger Hu
Tel: +86-10-5900-1548
Email: zhihu@christensencomms.com
FAQ
Who is the new independent director of Zhihu (NYSE: ZH)?
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