(Image source: Visual China)
Blue Whale News, 10 13 (Reporter Shi Yu)
The Shenzhen Bureau of the National Financial Regulatory Administration recently disclosed an administrative licensing approval, confirming Qi Meizhu's qualification as General Manager of Haiyang Life Insurance.
This marks the first CEO change at Harbor Life since its launch three and a half years ago in 2023.
Born in 1972, Qi Zijhu possesses a strong actuarial foundation and has extensive experience spanning product development, actuarial science, finance, and corporate planning. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and holds credentials as a Chinese Actuary and an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (SOA). His career includes roles such as Head of Market Development for Group Business at CPIC Life, Head of Product Management at the Product Development Department, Chief Actuary and General Manager of Corporate Planning at Lujiazui Guotai Life, and Deputy Party Committee Member, Deputy General Manager, Chief Actuary, Financial Officer, and Secretary to the Board at Taiping Pension Insurance.
Qi Mei is succeeded by Qiao Ning, the first general manager of Haigang Life Insurance. Born in 1964, Qiao Ning began his career in the banking sector before joining Taiping Life Insurance, where he gained experience at local branches and multiple regional companies. In 2016 10, he was appointed Marketing Director at Taiping Life Insurance, subsequently serving as the company's spokesperson while also overseeing departments such as Social Security and Commercial Operations Management, Operations Management, and Customer Service. Later, he held roles including Head of Compliance and Chief Risk Officer at Taiping Life Insurance.
In 2023, the Port Life Insurance Company was approved for operation, jointly established by the Insurance Security Fund, Taiping Life, and state-owned enterprises from Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, and Chongqing. It subsequently acquired all of Hengda Life's insurance business along with corresponding assets and liabilities. Qiao Ning, appointed by shareholder Taiping Life, became the company's first general manager.
In 4 this year, Qiaoning stepped down as general manager upon reaching retirement age, and Qi Meizhu was appointed interim head, initiating a nearly six-month transition period.
During Qiao Ning's three-year tenure, Haigang Life Insurance was in its critical early stage of asset transfers, non-performing asset disposal, and investment capability building. At the 2024 annual meeting, Haigang Life reported significant new business profitability, accelerated progress in asset transfers and non-performing asset disposal ahead of plan, and notable reductions in liability costs. In 2025, the company further announced that its "Haigang-style customer service ecosystem" had been established and that the "Qihang Project" achieved successful breakthroughs in business expansion and brand development.
"Haven Life is still in its early stage, and the product mix for new business is gradually taking shape. A general manager with an actuarial background naturally brings more professional and precise judgment and decision-making capabilities to core areas such as risk management and product innovation," said a senior executive at a life insurance company.
Analyzing Haigang Life's product roadmap over the past three years: In 2024, the company filed 35 new products, focusing on the bancassurance channel. Beyond incrementally whole life and endowment insurance, it launched pension annuity plans linked to residency rights in Greater Bay Area senior living communities. The individual sales, agency, and group channels introduced 5, 8, and 6 products respectively that year. From 2025 to 2026, Haigang Life expanded its portfolio to include long-term care insurance and personal pension products, while extending distribution to online channels.
Regarding organizational structure, in 2024 6, Harbor Life completed its restructuring and progressively established branch offices. It currently operates 9 provincial branches and 87 sub-branches nationwide.
From the current node's perspective,海港人寿 (Haigang Life Insurance) has maintained a steady pace over its first three years: advancing risk asset disposal while building a solid foundation for new business. However, the challenge remains that legacy assets still pose long-term redemption pressures, particularly in today's low-interest-rate environment. For this young insurer, developing a robust asset-liability management capability capable of withstanding economic cycles remains an unavoidable imperative.
At the same time, Sealand Life has clearly focused on four core areas: wealth management, retirement planning, health protection, and inclusive insurance. While initial progress has been made across these dimensions, deepening business implementation and building core competitive advantages remain long-term challenges for the new leadership team.
