HNA Group announces death of Chairman Wang Jian in an accident in France

HNA Group today announced with great sadness the tragic and sudden death of its co-founder and Chairman, Wang Jian, age 57, in an accident in Provence, France. Mr. Wang was in France on a business trip.

The 57-year-old businessman fell ten meters deep from a cliff in the mountain village of Bonnieux. He had asked a friend to take a picture of him near the famous medieval church, which stands on the edge of the cliff. Wang Jian, who was traveling in France with family and friends, died immediately from the consequences of his fall. There was no malicious intent, said the local gendarme Wednesday.

HNA Group’s board and management team, led by co-founder and Chairman Chen Feng and CEO Adam Tan, issued the following statement:

“HNA Group extends deepest condolences to Mr. Wang’s family and many friends.  Together, we mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy.”

HNA Group is composed of seven sub-groups: HNA Aviation (affiliated with multiple Chinese airlines of which Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Lucky Air, …), HNA Tourism, HNA Capital, HNA Holdings, HNA Modern Logistics, HNA Innovation Finance, and HNA Innovation Media & Entertainment.