Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-09 07:05Core Viewpoint - The former chairman of China Resources Beer, Hou Xiaohai, has officially joined Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the China region, focusing on market and marketing integration for the group's consumer goods sector, including eggs, pork, chicken, food, and feed products [1][5]. Group 1: Company Transition - Hou Xiaohai's transition to CP Group comes over six months after he stepped down from his key role at China Resources Beer, where he had served as CEO and chairman [1][5]. - His departure from China Resources Beer was announced in June 2025, citing a desire to spend more time on personal arrangements, effective after the board meeting on June 27 [1][5]. Group 2: Achievements at China Resources Beer - During his tenure at China Resources Beer, Hou led a strategic transformation known as the "3+3+3" nine-year strategy, shifting the company from scale expansion to high-quality development [3][7]. - Under his leadership, the company's revenue increased by over 10 billion yuan, with net profit rising from 1.329 billion yuan to 4.759 billion yuan, and a gross margin reaching 42.6% in 2024, the highest in five years [3][7]. Group 3: CP Group Overview - CP Group, founded in 1921 by Thai-Chinese brothers, has evolved from a single business into a diversified multinational corporation with core operations in agriculture, food, and retail, among other sectors [4][8]. - The group operates in over 100 countries and regions globally, employing more than 460,000 people, with projected global sales of 102.2 billion USD in 2024 [4][8]. - Analysts believe that Hou's experience in fast-moving consumer goods will align well with CP Group's core business, potentially leading to significant changes in its consumer goods integration [4][8].