Wang Jian (businessman)
Wang Jian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 Tianjin, China |
| Died | 2018-07-03 Bonnieux, Provence, France |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Co-founder of Hainan Airlines and HNA Group |
Wang Jian (; 1961 – 3 July 2018) was a prominent Chinese businessman and billionaire. He co-established and jointly led Hainan Airlines and the diversified HNA Group alongside Chen Feng. By 2018, HNA's asset portfolio was valued at approximately US$230 billion. In 2017, the conglomerate ranked as the 170th largest global company by revenue according to the Fortune Global 500. Both Wang and Chen were the principal shareholders of HNA, each holding close to 15% ownership. Wang's life ended in July 2018 due to an apparent accidental fall while he was traveling in France.
Biography
Wang was born in Tianjin in 1961. He earned a bachelor's degree in aviation business management from the Civil Aviation University of China in 1983 and initially worked for the Civil Aviation Administration of China. He furthered his training at Japan Airlines through a scholarship provided by the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) and later completed an MBA at the Maastricht School of Management in 1995.
In 1990, Wang played a key role in founding Hainan Airlines based in Hainan province, assuming the position of chief executive officer. Together with Chen Feng, he established the diversified enterprise HNA Group, which expanded to become the world’s 170th largest company by revenue, generating US$53 billion in 2017.
While Chen served as the public representative of HNA, Wang maintained a more operational role behind the scenes. Their partnership transformed HNA from a regional airline into an international conglomerate with investments including stakes in Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Deutsche Bank, and NH Hotel Group, as well as ownership of Ingram Micro. Despite this growth, HNA’s expansion was largely fueled by debt, with liabilities reaching US$90 billion by 2018. At the time of Wang’s passing, the group was actively divesting assets to manage its financial obligations.
As of 2017, both Wang and Chen held roughly 15% equity each in HNA, positioning them among China's wealthiest entrepreneurs. Additionally, Wang contributed academically as a part-time lecturer at his alma mater, Civil Aviation University of China.
Family
Wang Jian's younger sibling, Wang Wei, was influential behind the scenes within HNA Group.
Death
In July 2018, during a business visit to France, Wang Jian died following a fall of about 15 meters from a low wall while posing for photographs in Bonnieux, Provence. He was declared dead several hours after the incident. Despite some speculation about intentionality, French authorities ruled out suicide.
Wang’s unexpected death occurred amid HNA Group’s ongoing efforts to reduce debt through asset sales abroad and resulted in a decline in the company’s dollar-denominated bond values. In remembrance, Hainan Airlines and other carriers under HNA adopted gray-themed designs on their official websites.