Former Leapmotor President Ai Tiecheng Joins Huazhu Group as Chief Growth Officer

Ai Tiecheng, former President of Leapmotor Automotive (a brand under NIO), has officially joined Huazhu Group as Chief Growth Officer (CGO), reporting directly to CEO Jin Hui. He will oversee the Marketing Department, Huazhu Club, and the Marketing Technology Center, leading the group’s overall growth strategy with a focus on membership expansion, traffic operations, data-driven systems, brand marketing, and exploration of new businesses. He will also assist in managing Huazhu’s premium brand portfolio. Ai joined NIO in 2021 to lead the Leapmotor brand but departed in April 2024 after the brand failed to meet its sales targets. His career began at Procter & Gamble, and he has held roles at InterContinental Hotels Group, Disney, and WeWork. With this move, he returns to his familiar domain of consumer and brand management. Huazhu Group currently operates over 12,700 hotels across 20 countries globally. In Q3 2025, the company reported revenue of RMB 7 billion, an 8.1% year-over-year increase.