Anta Brand CEO Xu Yang Steps Down Amid Expansion
Anta Brand CEO Xu Yang Steps Down Amid Expansion.
Anta brand chief executive officer Xu Yang has stepped down from his role due to "personal family reasons," the Chinese sportswear company said on Wednesday.
In a statement sent to FN, the company said that it has accepted the executive's request and "is exploring other suitable opportunities for Mr. Xu within the group."
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In his place, the company has named Lai Shixian, co-CEO of Anta Sports Products Limited, as interim CEO of the Anta brand. "He will assume overall responsibilities for the brand's operations in management," the company stated.
The news comes after the March release of the company's most recent 2025 annual results. The company noted that revenue for the year at Anta brand increased by 3.7 percent year-on-year to 34.75 billion yuan, while operating profit rose by 2.5 percent to 7.21 billion yuan. "The business continued to deliver steady progress, maintaining its position as the leading Chinese sportswear brand," Anta stated at the time.
In April, the company noted that retail sales of Anta branded products "recorded high-single digit positive growth" in the first quarter of 2026, as compared to the same period in 2025.
The news follows a period of expansion for the brand and the overall company. In February, Anta brand opened its first U.S. flagship store in Beverly Hills, Calif. Located at 330 N. Beverly Drive, the 3,000-square-foot store features a curated assortment across performance running, lifestyle footwear, signature basketball, and apparel, alongside immersive athlete storytelling and brand environments.
The opening marked a major milestone in the brand's global expansion and long-term investment in the American market. The move also built on Anta's global retail footprint of more than 12,000 stores across China.
In January, Anta brand parent company Anta Sports Products Limited confirmed that it inked an agreement with Groupe Artémis, the investment company of the Pinault family, to acquire a 29.06 percent stake in Puma SE in a deal worth 1.5 billion euros, or about $1.8 billion.
The transaction, which sets Anta Sports as the largest shareholder in Puma, is expected to close by the end of 2026. The equity acquisition will be entirely financed with Anta Sports' internal cash resources, the company said.
Sinergia Empresarial continuará el seguimiento de esta información sobre anta Brand CEO Xu Yang Steps Down Amid Expansion y ampliará la cobertura conforme se confirmen nuevos elementos relevantes para el ecosistema empresarial.
