Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2026-01-15 13:40Core Viewpoint - Haidilao has undergone a significant management restructuring, with Zhang Yong returning as CEO, indicating a shift towards a governance structure that emphasizes founder leadership during a challenging period for the company's core hotpot business [1][4][9]. Management Changes - On January 13, Haidilao announced the resignation of Guo Yiqun as CEO and executive director, with Zhang Yong appointed as the new CEO, maintaining his role as chairman [1][4]. - This marks the third CEO change in four years, reflecting ongoing strategic adjustments within the company [3][7]. - Guo Yiqun will continue to play a crucial role in the company, focusing on the automation and digitalization of management processes [4][6]. Board Composition - The board has appointed four new executive directors, all with extensive experience in operational and core functional roles, to support innovation and long-term development [5][6]. - The average tenure of the new executive directors is nearly 20 years, indicating a strong internal leadership pipeline [6]. Business Performance - Haidilao's financial performance has shown a decline, with revenue for the first half of 2025 at 20.703 billion yuan, down 3.7% year-on-year, and net profit at 1.755 billion yuan, down 13.7% [9]. - The average table turnover rate decreased to 3.8 times per day, down from 4.2 times in the previous year, attributed to increased competition and changing consumer behavior [9]. Strategic Focus - The company is accelerating its exploration of new growth avenues, including takeout, multi-brand strategies, and franchising, particularly through the "Pomegranate Plan," which has successfully incubated 14 restaurant brands [9][10]. - The takeout business has seen a significant increase, with revenue growing nearly 60% to 928 million yuan, driven by a focus on single-serving hotpot offerings [9]. Future Outlook - The return of Zhang Yong as CEO is viewed as timely and necessary to balance resources and enhance efficiency across multiple business lines [10].