Core Viewpoint - The recent leadership change at Lihua Group marks a significant transition as Xu Ruize succeeds her father Xu Gongzao as the chairman and legal representative, indicating a family succession and the establishment of a new management team [1][3][11] Company Overview - Lihua Group was founded in January 1998 and was previously known as Qingdao Changjiang Commercial Co., Ltd. It went public in 2017, with Lihua Group being the major shareholder holding 18.72% [5] - Xu Gongzao, the outgoing chairman, has a long history in retail, starting as a sales clerk in 1975 and eventually leading Lihua to become a retail leader in Qingdao [5][7] Leadership Transition - Xu Ruize, born in 1982, has been with Lihua Group since 2008, holding various positions including vice chairman and president before her recent appointment as chairman [6][11] - The new management team includes Wang Benpeng as president and several new board members, indicating a shift towards a younger leadership with 67% of the new executives being from the post-80s generation [11][13] Strategic Direction - Under Xu Ruize's leadership, Lihua Group is focusing on supply chain integration and digital transformation, positioning itself to adapt to the challenges posed by e-commerce and changing consumer behaviors [9][10] - The company has developed a B2B procurement platform and an O2O e-commerce platform, achieving a 42% year-on-year increase in online sales during the pandemic [10] Social Responsibility - Lihua Group has maintained its commitment to social responsibility, distributing over 100,000 tons of essential goods during the pandemic and supporting rural education initiatives [10][11]