Yum China names new chief financial officer

It will take effect on March 6.

Yum China Holdings Inc. has appointed Adrian Ding as its chief financial officer, effective 6 March.

Ding, who has been serving as acting CFO since October 2024, takes on the role following a comprehensive search process, the company announced.

"He has effectively led the finance team, strengthened our engagement with stakeholders, including the capital markets, and played a pivotal role in building Yum China's growth momentum," said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. "With his deep understanding of our strategies and strong business acumen, I am confident that Adrian will continue to play an instrumental role in driving our RGM 2.0 strategy."

Ding joined Yum China in 2019 as vice president of corporate finance before becoming chief investment officer in 2020. Over the years, he has spearheaded key investment and capital market initiatives, including KFC joint venture acquisitions and strategic investments in supply chain and technology. He also played a key role in Yum China’s Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing.

In addition to his finance leadership, Ding served as general manager of the company’s Lavazza joint venture from 2022 to 2024, overseeing its market entry and expansion in China.

Before joining Yum China, Ding also held roles at Alibaba Group, UBS, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup, specializing in investment banking and strategic investments. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Finance from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.