14 High-Level Corporate Executives Died in China in First 2 Months of 2024

Patients on beds set up in the atrium area of a busy hospital in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 13, 2023. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

China is again seeing a disturbing trend of public figures suddenly dying. In the two months of this year, China has reported the deaths of at least 14 high-level corporate executives. All died of illness, and nine were under the age of 60.

The group includes Zong Qinghou, founder and chairman of Hangzhou Wahaha Group; Shen Qingkai, 50, chairman and general manager of Risuntek Inc; Du Hua, 50, the richest man in Laning County, Shandong, and chairman of China Century Group; Zhu Lei, 40, an independent director of Dare Power Dekor Home.

Chairmen of Big Companies

Shen Qingkai, one of the de facto controllers, chairman, and general manager of Risuntek Inc., a company listed on the A-share market, passed away on Feb. 28 at the age of 50 due to a sudden illness for which medical treatment was ineffective.

Risuntek Inc., headquartered in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, is a high-tech company specializing in the research and development, production, and sales of electro-acoustic products, mainly headphones and electro-acoustic products accessories.

Du Hua, the richest man in Lanling County, Shandong Province, and chairman of China Century Group Chairman, died of a sudden heart attack on Feb. 10, the first day of the Chinese New Year. He was also 50 years old.

China Century Group is engaged in a wide range of industries and businesses, including automobile trading, hospitals, logistics, and plazas. With a net worth of approximately 20 billion yuan (about $2.8 billion), Mr. Du was the richest man in his home county.

Zong Qinghou, founder and chairman of The Hangzhou Wahaha Group, the largest beverage producer in China, passed away on Feb. 25 at the age of 79.

Chinese workers load bottles of Wahaha drinking water onto a truck for shipment outside their factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on July 3 2007. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Mr. Zong was a deputy to the 10th, 11th, and 12th National People’s Congresses and a deputy to the 12th, 13th, and 14th provincial-level congresses in Zhejiang Province. He has been awarded the title of “National Labor Model” by the Chinese authorities.

Guo Kaiji, Chairman and President of Xinglong Holding Group, passed away on Feb. 4 at the age of 76 due to illness.

Lu Hang, Chief Representative of Wearnes Group in China and President of Huaxin International Group, passed away on Jan. 16 in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, at the age of 73.

Mr. Lu has long worked in the real estate industry, having served as the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Housing Industry Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and other positions.

Yang Changguo, Chairman of Wuhan’s Xinlinmiao Yantu Network Technology Group Company, passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 81 due to illness.

Du Yonglin, Chairman and the actual controller of Shanchuan Xiumei Ecological and Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., passed away on Jan. 3 at the age of 81.

Mr. Du Yonglin has served as deputy director of the Petroleum Research Institute of the Ministry of Petroleum, director of the Petroleum and Petrochemical Department of the State Planning Commission, deputy director of the Energy Institute of the State Planning Commission, and general manager of the Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation.

Seven Company Executives

In addition to these seven company chairmen, in the first two months of 2024, at least seven other company executives in mainland China have died of illness, all under the age of 60, based on partial statistics.

On Jan. 6, 2024, the Board of Directors of Fujian Foxit Software Development Co., Ltd. announced that Ye Dongyi, an independent board director of the company, passed away recently due to illness.

Mr. Ye was a professor of science and big data at Fuzhou University. Born in February 1964, he had not turned 60 yet. Mr. Ye’s other titles included the Fujian Province Information Industry Expert Committee, Fujian Provincial Computer Society, and vice chairman of the Fujian Provincial Artificial Intelligence Society.

Fan Yongjun, an independent director of Yingjie Electric Company, passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 47 due to illness.

The Board of Directors of Dare Power Dekor Home announced on Jan. 8 that Zhu Lei, an independent director of the company, passed away recently after a sudden illness. Mr. Zhu, who has a background in law, was born in 1984 and was only 40 years old.

The board of directors of Anhui Zhongke Automation Co., Ltd. announced on Jan. 16 that Xu Yimin, a company director, passed away due to a sudden illness and ineffective medical treatment. Mr. Xu, born in February 1965, was 59 years old.

Hebei Shen Yue Software Technology Co., Ltd. announced on Jan. 23 that Zhang Hongbin, 56, an independent director of the company, passed away due to ineffective medical treatment.

Guangzhou Gaolan Energy Saving Technology Ltd. released an announcement on Feb. 4, saying that Yang Rui, the company’s supervisor, passed away recently. Born in 1970, Mr. Yang was only 54 years old. Founded in 2001, Gaolan Energy Saving is one of China’s pioneer companies focusing on thermal management technology innovation and industrialization.

Director and Chief Financial Officer Yu Jiashuang of Tai Jing Technology Co., Ltd. died on Feb. 23 of a sudden illness at the age of 58. His company is engaged in frequency control devices, micro-acoustic devices and other electronic components, high-speed and high-stability communication network devices and components, automotive electronics and modules, and other related intelligent equipment research and development, production, sales, and technical services of national high-tech enterprises.