GE Healthcare Announces Leadership Transition in China, Will Song to Succeed Zhang Yihao as President and CEO

Official sources said that the decision to retire was made by Zhang Yihao after careful consideration.Personal ChoiceHis planned retirement arrangement allows GE Healthcare sufficient time to strategically search for and complete the selection of a successor.

Since joining the company in 2019, Zhang Yihao has been fully responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and operations of GE Healthcare in the Chinese market to achieve GE Healthcare's deep cultivation and long-term development in China. He led his team to redefine the China strategy of "comprehensive localization, limitless innovation, and win-win cooperation," laying a solid foundation for the company's long-term development in China.

Particularly noteworthy is the comprehensive "Made in China" concept he has developed and promoted, which has led the transformation of the entire industry and helped the company move steadily forward in a rapidly changing market environment. Over the past five years, GE Healthcare has doubled its R&D investment in China, expanded production capacity in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuxi, and Tianjin, and established two new manufacturing bases in Chengdu and Shenzhen.

"Zhang Yihao is an extremely humble, energetic, and people-oriented leader who consistently embodies our company’s culture, strategy, and mission, creating a profoundly positive impact on both colleagues and the industry," said Peter Andoni, Global President and CEO of GE Healthcare. "I sincerely thank him for his efforts and contributions in establishing GE Healthcare as an innovation leader in the Chinese market over the years. I wish him a fulfilling retirement. Looking ahead, I am confident that Song Weiqun's excellent reputation in the industry, deep market insights, strong relationships with key stakeholders, and thorough understanding of customer needs will enhance our competitiveness in China, drive business growth, and contribute to the future of healthcare."

Before joining GE Healthcare, Song Weiqun served as the Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson and the Chairman of Johnson & Johnson China, leading the Johnson & Johnson China President's Committee to advance the innovation journey and synergistic development of the company’s two major business sectors—medical technology and innovative pharmaceuticals—in China.Wei Qun Song has been with Johnson & Johnson since 2003, holding various key positions and accumulating extensive industry experience.

Song Weiqun is a highly respected leader and opinion leader in the Chinese medical industry. He holds important social positions such as Vice President of the China Association for Medical Devices Industry, Vice President of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, and Vice President of the Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to promoting China's economic development and the growth of the healthcare industry, Song Weiqun has received numerous significant awards and honors from both the government and the industry. Song Weiqun graduated from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at Peking University, later earning a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.