Board of Directors

Dr. Fred Hu has served as our independent Director and Chairman of the Board since November 2016. He has also served as the chairman and founder of Primavera, a China-based global investment firm, since its inception in 2011. Prior to Primavera, Dr. Hu served in various roles at Goldman Sachs from 1997 to 2010, including as partner and chairman of Greater China at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. From 1991 to 1996, he served as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C. Dr. Hu currently is a member of the board of directors of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, a company listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 1398) and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SHA: 601398), and UBS Group AG, a company listed on both the SIX Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: UBSG) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: UBS). From May 2011 to May 2018, Dr. Hu served as an independent non-executive director of Hang Seng Bank Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 0011). From November 2014 to April 2021, he served as an independent non-executive director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 0388). From August 2020 to March 2022, he served as an independent non-executive director for Ant Group. Dr. Hu served as a co-director of the National Center for Economic Research and a professor at Tsinghua University. Dr. Hu obtained his doctoral degree in economics from Harvard University. Dr. Hu brings to our Board extensive expertise in international affairs and the Chinese economy. In addition, Dr. Hu brings valuable business, strategic development and corporate leadership experience as well as expertise in economics, finance and global capital markets. 

Ms. Joey Wat has served as our Director since July 2017 and as the Chief Executive Officer of our Company since March 2018. She served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2017 to February 2018 and the Chief Executive Officer, KFC from October 2016 to February 2017, a position she held at Yum! Restaurants China, from August 2015 to October 2016. Ms. Wat joined Yum! Restaurants China in September 2014 as President of KFC China and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer for KFC China in August 2015. Before joining YUM, Ms. Wat served in both management and strategy positions at A.S. Watson Group (“Watson”), an international health, beauty and lifestyle retailer, in the U.K. from 2004 to 2014. Her last position at Watson was managing director of Watson Health & Beauty U.K., which operates Superdrug and Savers, two retail chains specializing in the sale of pharmacy and health and beauty products, from 2012 to 2014. She made the transition from head of strategy of Watson in Europe to managing director of Savers in 2007. Before joining Watson, Ms. Wat spent seven years in management consulting including with McKinsey & Company’s Hong Kong office from 2000 to 2003. Ms. Wat obtained a master of management degree from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2000. Ms. Wat has been honored with consecutive inclusion in the Forbes “The World’s Most Powerful Women” list from 2020 to 2023 and Forbes China “100 Top Businesswomen List” from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, since 2018 she has been continually recognized on Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Business list and Fortune China’s “50 Business Leaders”. In 2020, she was also named to Business Insider’s “100 People Transforming Business Asia” list. Ms. Wat brings to our Board extensive knowledge of the Company’s business and her industry acumen acquired in the course of a career that included several leadership roles in retail companies.

Mr. Robert B. Aiken has served as our Director since May 2024. He has also served as the Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co., a bulk herb and spice supplier, since 2021. Mr. Aiken served as Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Foodservice Supply, a foodservice supply company, from 2017 to 2020, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Essendant Inc., a wholesale distribution company, from 2015 to 2017. Mr. Aiken served as the Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America, a hunger relief charity organization, from 2012 until 2015. Mr. Aiken was the Chief Executive Officer of Bolder Foods, a private equity firm, from 2010 to 2012. Prior to entering the private equity business in 2010, Mr. Aiken held various positions in U.S. Foodservice (now known as US Foods Holding Corp., NYSE: USFD), including as the President and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2010, as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2005 to 2007, and as Executive Vice President of Sales/Marketing & Supply Chain from 2004 to 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Aiken held several positions from 1994 through 2000 at Specialty Foods Corp., including Chief Executive Officer of its Metz Baking Company subsidiary. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Aiken also served as President and Principal of Milwaukee Sign Co. and early in Mr. Aiken’s career, he worked as a business lawyer, first with the firm Sidley & Austin and then with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati. Mr. Aiken also served as an independent director and a member of compensation, nominating and governance, and finance committees of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) from 2010 to 2017. Mr. Aiken obtained a bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1985 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1989, both from Georgetown University. Mr. Aiken brings to our Board extensive leadership, operations and logistics experience in the restaurant and food industry.

Mr. Peter A. Bassi has served as our independent Director since October 2016. He served as Chairman of Yum! Restaurants International from 2003 to 2005 and as its President from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that position, Mr. Bassi spent 25 years in a wide range of financial and general management positions at PepsiCo, Inc., Pepsi-Cola International, Pizza Hut (U.S. and International), Frito-Lay and Taco Bell. Mr. Bassi served on the board of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI) from September 2004 to June 2024. From January 2009 to May 2019, Mr. Bassi held various positions on the board of Potbelly Corporation (NASDAQ: PBPB). From June 2015 to December 2018, Mr. Bassi served on the value optimization board for Mekong Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Vietnam. He also served on the board of supervisors of AmRest Holdings SE (WSE: EAT) from 2013 to 2015, and served on the board of the Pep Boys— Manny, Moe & Jack from 2002 to 2009. Mr. Bassi received his master’s degree of business administration (MBA) from the University of Rhode Island in 1972. Mr. Bassi brings to our Board knowledge of the restaurant industry and global franchising, as well as financial expertise and extensive public company board and corporate governance experience.

Ms. Mikel A. Durham has served as our Director since August 2024. She served as CEO of American Seafoods Group, a world’s leading at-sea processor of seafood, from January 2017 to February 2022. She also chaired the trade association for Wild Alaska Pollock, the largest global fishery for human consumption. Ms. Durham served as the global chief commercial officer of the private equity backed CSM Bakery Solutions, a global bakery supply manufacturer, from 2014 to 2016. Prior to joining CSM Bakery Solutions, Ms. Durham held various positions in PepsiCo, Inc. from 1994 to 1998 and from 2009 to 2013, with her last position being global growth officer for PepsiCo Foodservice. She also held executive roles at CEB Global Inc. in operations research from 2006 to 2008, Cadbury Schweppes in supply chain from 2002 to 2006, and Diageo in general management of both packaged goods and foodservice from 1998 to 2001 (including serving as president of Burger King North America from 2000 to 2001). From 1985 to 1994, Ms. Durham worked at Bain & Company, where she served in several roles working in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, and from 1992 to 1994, co-leading the Russian office. Since 2023, she has served on the board of the Marine Stewardship Council. From July 2015 to August 2024, Ms. Durham served as an independent director of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN). Ms. Durham obtained a master’s degree of business administration (MBA) from the Harvard University in 1990. Ms. Durham brings to our Board deep knowledge of the food industry, significant public company board experience, and global business expertise.

Mr. Edouard Ettedgui has served as our independent Director since October 2016. He has also served as the non-executive chairman of Alliance Française, Hong Kong since 2016. He also served as a non-executive director of Mandarin Oriental International Limited from April 2016 to May 2020, the company for which he was the group chief executive from 1998 to 2016. Prior to his time at Mandarin Oriental International, Mr. Ettedgui was the chief financial officer for Dairy Farm International Holdings, and he served in various roles for British American Tobacco (“BAT”), including as the business development director, group finance controller and group head of finance. From 1990 to 1996, he spent around six years with BAT Industries PLC in London, initially as the head of finance and later as the group finance controller and director for new business development. Mr. Ettedgui graduated from ESSEC Business School (France) in 1975. He brings to our Board senior management experience in various international consumer-product industries, extensive financial expertise and public company board experience.

Mr. David Hoffmann has served as our independent Director since July 2023. He has also served as the chairman and chief executive officer of Mammoth Holdings, a Dallas-based conveyor car wash operator since October 2021. Prior to joining Mammoth Holdings, Mr. Hoffmann held a variety of top leadership positions in the global quick service restaurant industry. Mr. Hoffmann served as Director and CEO of Dunkin’ Brands from 2018 to 2020 and as President, Dunkin’ U.S. from 2016 to 2018. Prior to joining Dunkin’ Brands, Mr. Hoffmann served as an executive for McDonald’s Corporation for 20 years in increasing areas of international responsibility, including as President of High Growth Markets, President of Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Senior Vice President and Restaurant Support Officer for APMEA, Vice President of Strategy, Insights and Development for APMEA, and Executive Vice President of McDonald’s Japan. Mr. Hoffmann received his master’s degree of business administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago in 1996. Mr. Hoffmann brings to our Board leadership experience in the global restaurant industry, strong operational expertise, and deep knowledge about doing business in China and Asia Pacific.

Ms. Ruby Lu has served as our independent Director since October 2016. She is a venture capitalist investing in technology start-ups in the U.S. and China. Ms. Lu founded Atypical Ventures, an early-stage technology venture investment firm, in 2019. In 2006, she co-founded DCM China, a venture capital firm. Prior to DCM, Ms. Lu was a vice president in the investment banking group of technology, media and telecommunications at Goldman Sachs & Co. in Menlo Park, California. She is currently an independent director on the boards of Unilever (NYSE: UL), Uxin Limited (NASDAQ: UXIN) and Volvo Car AB (STO: VOLCAR-B). She also served as an independent director of BlueCity Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: BLCT) from 2020 to 2021, before it was taken private. Ms. Lu obtained her master of arts from Johns Hopkins University in 1996. Ms. Lu brings to our Board public company board experience as well as extensive financial and global market experience. 

Mr. Zili Shao has served as our independent Director since October 2016. Mr. Shao is the founder and chairman of MountVue Capital Management Co. Ltd. Mr. Shao also serves as an independent member of the general and supervisory board of EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A., a multinational energy company listed on the Euronext Lisbon Stock Exchange (stock code: EDP). Mr. Shao was co-chairman and partner at King & Wood Mallesons China from April 2015 to May 2017. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Shao held various positions at JP Morgan Chase & Co. (“JP Morgan”), including roles such as chairman and chief executive officer of JP Morgan China and vice chairman of JP Morgan Asia Pacific. Prior to JP Morgan, he was a partner at Linklaters LLP, a leading international law firm, for 12 years. He acted as managing partner of Linklaters of Greater China and was subsequently appointed managing partner of the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Shao obtained his master's degree in law from the University of Melbourne in 1994. Mr. Shao brings to our Board extensive professional experience in Asia and public company board and corporate governance experience. 

Mr. William Wang has served as our independent Director since July 2017. He is one of the founding partners of Primavera. Prior to Primavera, Mr. Wang served as a managing director of Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking/Principal Investment Area, where he led significant successful investments in China for the group. Prior to that, Mr. Wang worked in the investment banking division and private equity group of China International Capital Corporation Limited. Mr. Wang currently serves as a director on the board of Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 0175), and Sunlands Technology Group, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: STG), in addition to directorships at Primavera’s portfolio companies. Mr. Wang obtained a master of management degree in management science and engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2000. He brings to our Board deep knowledge and investment insights of the Chinese market. 

Ms. Min (Jenny) Zhang has served as our independent Director since May 2021. She held various leadership positions in Huazhu Group Limited ("Huazhu"), a multi-brand hotel group listed on both the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ: HTHT) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 1179) from September 2007 to August 2021, including as vice-chairlady from July 2020 to August 2021, executive vice-chairlady from November 2019 to July 2020, chief executive officer from May 2015 to November 2019, president from January 2015 to May 2015, chief financial officer from March 2008 to May 2015, chief strategic officer from November 2013 to January 2015 and senior vice president of finance from September 2007 to February 2008. Ms. Zhang served as an independent director of LAIX Inc., an artificial intelligence company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LAIX), from May 2020 to October 2022. She served as an independent non-executive director of Genscript Biotech Corporation, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 1548), from August 2015 to November 2018, and an independent director of OneSmart Education Group Limited, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ONE), from March 2018 to February 2020. Ms. Zhang received a master of business administration degree from Harvard Business School in 2003. Ms. Zhang brings to our Board leadership experience in a consumer-focused industry in China, extensive financial expertise and public company board experience.

Ms. Christina Xiaojing Zhu has served as our independent Director since May 2023. Ms. Zhu is the president and chief executive officer of Walmart China. Prior to joining Walmart Group in May 2020, Ms. Zhu served as the president of Fonterra Greater China, a global dairy exporter and milk processor, where she led Fonterra group’s businesses in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan region, from August 2016 to December 2019, and served as a managing director and vice president from September 2011 to July 2016. Prior to joining Fonterra, Ms. Zhu served as a vice president of Honeywell International Inc., a NYSE-listed technology company, where she was responsible for strategy and development, from January 2005 to May 2008, and served as director for strategy and business development from February 2003 to January 2005. Prior to that, Ms. Zhu worked as an engagement manager of McKinsey & Company with a focus on serving financial institutions from 1999 to 2003. From May 2020 to September 2024, Ms. Zhu served as a director of Dada Nexus Limited (NASDAQ: DADA), a platform of local on-demand retail and delivery in China listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. From May 2020 to August 2024, Ms. Zhu served as a non-voting observer of JD.com, Inc., an e-commerce company that is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ: JD) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 9618). Ms. Zhu received a bachelor’s degree in western studies from Beijing Foreign Studies University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Ms. Zhu brings to our Board leadership, operational and digital experience in a customer-centric industry in China.