China Unicom Taps Veteran Executive as Chairman to Navigate Telecom Transition
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Dong Xin, a seasoned telecom executive, has been appointed chairman and Communist Party chief of China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd., known as China Unicom, marking his return to the industry following nearly two years in a top media regulatory role.
The 59-year-old’s appointment was announced Wednesday, filling the vacancy left after former chairman Chen Zhongyue was tapped to lead rival China Mobile Group Co. Ltd. on Oct. 28. Since then, General Manager Jian Qin had been managing daily operations at China Unicom.
The appointment completes a sweeping leadership reshuffle across China’s major state-owned telecom operators, as they face stagnating growth in legacy services and push to unlock new revenue sources through emerging technologies.
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- Dong Xin has been appointed chairman and Communist Party chief of China Unicom, returning from a media regulatory role.
- Dong’s leadership comes amid a sector-wide reshuffle and China Unicom’s shift to new technology-driven revenue sources.
- In the first nine months of 2025, China Unicom posted revenue of 293 billion yuan (+1% YoY) and net profit of 8.8 billion yuan (+5.2% YoY), with 356 million mobile subscribers.
- China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd.
- China United Network Communications Group Co. Ltd. (China Unicom) is one of China's major state-owned telecom operators. It recently appointed Dong Xin as chairman and Communist Party chief to address stagnating growth in legacy services and unlock new revenue through emerging technologies. In the first nine months of 2025, China Unicom reported a 1% year-on-year revenue increase to 293 billion yuan and a 5.2% rise in net profit to 8.8 billion yuan.
- China Mobile Group Co. Ltd.
- China Mobile Group Co. Ltd. recently saw its former chairman, Chen Zhongyue, tapped to lead the company on Oct. 28. Dong Xin, the new chairman of China Unicom, previously worked at China Mobile, rising to deputy general manager in 2013 and general manager in May 2020. During his tenure, China Mobile successfully completed a landmark A-share listing in Shanghai, raising 56 billion yuan ($7.9 billion).
- April 1966：
- Dong Xin was born.
- 2013：
- Dong Xin was promoted to deputy general manager of China Mobile.
- May 2020：
- Dong Xin became general manager of China Mobile.
- May 2021：
- China Mobile was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange following U.S. sanctions.
- January 2022：
- China Mobile held a landmark A-share listing in Shanghai, raising as much as 56 billion yuan.
- January 2024：
- Dong Xin began serving as deputy director of the National Radio and Television Administration.
- First nine months of 2025：
- China Unicom reported a 1% year-on-year rise in revenue to 293 billion yuan and a net profit increase of 5.2% to 8.8 billion yuan.
- October 28, 2025：
- Former China Unicom chairman Chen Zhongyue was appointed to lead China Mobile Group Co. Ltd.
- By November 19, 2025：
- Since the departure of Chen Zhongyue, General Manager Jian Qin managed daily operations at China Unicom.
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025：
- Dong Xin was appointed chairman and Communist Party chief of China Unicom; China Unicom’s shares closed at 5.41 yuan in Shanghai and at HK$9.39 in Hong Kong.
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