By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- New deputy: China’s State Council appointed Zhang Xiaotang deputy director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration.
- Industry veteran: Zhang moves to the senior STMA post after leading Hebei China Tobacco and previously serving in the regulator’s financial management and supervision department.
- Leadership changes: His appointment comes several months after Yao Laiying took over as STMA director.
China’s tobacco monopoly has another new face in its senior leadership.
The State Council named Zhang Xiaotang deputy director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) as part of a series of government appointments and removals announced Sept. 20.
The STMA subsequently listed Zhang as a member of its Party leadership group and deputy director.
Zhang most recently served as Party secretary and general manager of Hebei China Tobacco Industry Co., a position he had held since November 2022.
His move to Hebei followed several years at the STMA, where he worked in the agency’s financial management and supervision department. Zhang became deputy director of the department in December 2018 and was named director in November 2019.
The appointment gives the STMA leadership another official with experience both inside the national tobacco administration and at a provincial China Tobacco operation.
Zhang’s move comes several months after a change at the top of the agency.
Yao Laiying was appointed STMA director in April, replacing Zhang Jianmin. Before taking the tobacco position, Yao served as deputy commissioner of China’s State Taxation Administration.
Yao also serves as Party secretary of the STMA and is a member of the Party leadership group of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
