China Mobile Names China Unicom Chief as New Chairman
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Chen Zhongyue, chairman of China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd. (China Unicom), has been named chairman and Communist Party chief of China Mobile Communications Group Co. Ltd., replacing Yang Jie, who is stepping down after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
The announcement was made Tuesday during a meeting of China Mobile’s management. Yang, 63, is retiring after having led the world’s largest wireless carrier by subscribers for nearly six years.
His successor, Chen, is 54. Chen became chairman of China Unicom in Nov. 2023. His replacement has not yet been announced, and the company’s general manager, Jian Qin, will take charge of its overall operations for now, Caixin has learned from sources with knowledge of the matter.
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- Chen Zhongyue has been appointed chairman and Party chief of China Mobile, succeeding Yang Jie, who retired at age 63.
- Chen previously led China Unicom and is regarded as a pragmatic leader with broad telecom expertise; Jian Qin is interim head at China Unicom.
- China Mobile reported 794.7 billion yuan revenue and 115.4 billion yuan net profit for the first three quarters of 2025, with minor share price fluctuations.
- China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd.
- Chen Zhongyue, former chairman of China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd. (China Unicom), was appointed to this role in November 2023. He is now the chairman and Communist Party chief of China Mobile Communications Group Co. Ltd. His replacement at China Unicom has not yet been announced, with the general manager, Jian Qin, temporarily overseeing operations.
- China Mobile Communications Group Co. Ltd.
- China Mobile Communications Group Co. Ltd. (China Mobile) is the world's largest wireless carrier by subscribers. Its former chairman, Yang Jie, is retiring and has been replaced by Chen Zhongyue. China Mobile reported revenue of 794.7 billion yuan ($111 billion) for the first three quarters of 2025, with a 4% increase in net profit.
- China Telecommunications Corp.
- China Telecommunications Corp. (China Telecom) is a major state-owned telecom carrier where Yang Jie, the outgoing chairman of China Mobile, spent most of his career, becoming its youngest-ever general manager in 2011 and chairman in 2016. Chen Zhongyue, the new chairman of China Mobile, also previously served as deputy general manager at China Telecom.
- China Satellite Network Communications Group Co.Ltd.
- China Satellite Network Communications Group Co. Ltd. is a state-led company focused on building a national satellite internet network. Chen Zhongyue, the new chairman of China Mobile, was briefly involved in its preparatory team in 2020, serving as its third-in-command.
- 2011：
- Yang Jie became the youngest-ever general manager of China Telecom.
- 2014：
- Chen Zhongyue became deputy general manager at China Telecom, overseeing government and enterprise business.
- 2016：
- Yang Jie was promoted to chairman of China Telecommunications Corp.
- March 2019：
- Yang Jie became chairman of China Mobile.
- 2020：
- Chen Zhongyue was involved in preparations for China Satellite Network Communications Group Co. Ltd., serving as the third-in-command of its preparatory team.
- January 2021：
- Chen Zhongyue joined China Unicom.
- Nov. 2023：
- Chen Zhongyue became chairman of China Unicom.
- First three quarters of 2025：
- China Mobile reported revenue of 794.7 billion yuan and net profit attributable to equity holders rose 4% to 115.4 billion yuan.
- October 28, 2025：
- Chen Zhongyue was named chairman and Communist Party chief of China Mobile, replacing Yang Jie, during a meeting of China Mobile’s management.
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