
Core Viewpoint - The appointment of Zhao Chunwu as the Chairman of China Resources Beer marks a significant leadership transition following the resignation of Hou Xiaohai, with Zhao facing challenges in a competitive beer market and a loss-making liquor business [5][6][10]. Leadership Transition - Zhao Chunwu has officially transitioned from acting Chairman to Chairman and Chairman of the Finance Committee, effective September 3, 2025 [2][6]. - Zhao has over 20 years of experience within the China Resources system, having held various key positions since joining in 2003 [5][8]. - The board has expressed high confidence in Zhao's management and leadership abilities, considering him the best candidate to drive further development for the company [8]. Business Performance - In the first half of the year, China Resources Beer reported a beer sales volume of approximately 6.487 million kiloliters, a year-on-year increase of 2.2%, with revenue reaching 23.161 billion yuan, up 2.6% [10]. - The company's gross profit margin for beer increased by 2.5 percentage points to 48.3%, driven by high-end product sales, which grew over 10% [10]. - The liquor business, however, reported a loss of 150 million yuan, with revenues dropping to 780 million yuan from 1.18 billion yuan year-on-year [10][11]. Strategic Direction - Zhao has committed to continuing the high-quality and high-end development strategy initiated by his predecessor, with no major changes expected [11]. - The company aims to enhance its product offerings to cater to diverse consumer preferences, focusing on personalized and niche products [11]. - Zhao acknowledged that the integration of beer and liquor sales has not met expectations, but efforts are underway to deepen collaboration between beer distributors and liquor projects [12][13].