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 daily management of the Marketing Department, Huazhu Club, and the Marketing Technology Center, lead the formulation and execution of the group’s growth strategy, and focus on member acquisition, traffic operations, data-driven growth, brand marketing, and exploration of new businesses. Additionally, he will assist in overseeing the premium brand business cluster. Ai joined NIO in 2021 and served as President of Leapmotor Automotive before departing in April 2024 due to unmet sales targets. His career began at Procter & Gamble, followed by roles at InterContinental Hotels Group, Shanghai Disney Resort, and WeWork. With this move, he returns to the hospitality and service industry, where he has extensive experience. Huazhu Group currently operates over 12,700 hotels across 20 countries globally and reported year-over-year revenue growth in the third quarter of 2025.