SHANGHAI - Yum China Holdings (NYSE:YUMC), Inc. (NYSE: YUMC and HKEX: 9987), a leading restaurant company in China, today announced the departure of Chief Financial Officer Andy Yeung and the appointment of Adrian Ding as Acting CFO, effective October 1, 2024. The company also revealed the expansion of its Board of Directors with the addition of Mikel A. Durham on August 12, 2024.
Andy Yeung, who has been with Yum China since October 2019, will step down for personal reasons but will remain as a Senior Advisor to the CEO until February 28, 2025. During his tenure, Yeung played a pivotal role in navigating the company through the pandemic, enhancing financial strength, and leading the Hong Kong listing, according to CEO Joey Wat.
Adrian Ding, the incoming Acting CFO, has been with Yum China since March 2019 and has been instrumental in various investment projects and the establishment of the Lavazza joint venture in China. Ding's prior experience includes strategic investment roles at Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) Group and positions in investment banking at UBS AG, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited.
Additionally, the company has appointed Mikel A. Durham to its Board of Directors, increasing the board size to 12 directors, with 10 being independent. Durham brings extensive experience from her roles in the food industry, including as CEO of American Seafoods Group and various executive positions at PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP), Inc., CSM Bakery Solutions, and Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN), Inc.
InvestingPro Insights
As Yum China Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: YUMC) navigates a transition in its financial leadership and expands its board, investors are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market position. According to InvestingPro, Yum China is expected to see net income growth this year, which could reflect positively on the strategic decisions made during Andy Yeung's tenure as CFO and provide a favorable starting point for Adrian Ding in his acting role.
Despite the anticipated profitability, Yum China faces challenges with its gross profit margins, which have been relatively weak. The company's gross profit margin over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 stood at 9.38%, indicating room for improvement in this area. Additionally, the company's share price has experienced a significant drop over the last three months, with a 16.54% decline in total return, which may concern investors.
However, Yum China remains a prominent player in the Food Products industry and has consistently maintained dividend payments for six consecutive years, showcasing a commitment to shareholder returns. The company's dividend yield as of April 2024 was 2.3%, with a substantial 50.0% dividend growth over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024.
For investors seeking more detailed analysis and additional insights, there are 8 more InvestingPro Tips available for Yum China, which can be explored further at: https://www.investing.com/pro/YUMC.
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