Joey Wat, born in 1972, holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She has been with Yum China Holdings since 2014 and climbed the ranks quickly, starting as President of KFC China. She later became...

Joey Wat, born in 1972, holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She has been with Yum China Holdings since 2014 and climbed the ranks quickly, starting as President of KFC China. She later became CEO of KFC China before taking over as CEO of Yum China in March 2018. Under her leadership, Yum China has seen significant growth, including opening over 1,800 new stores in a single year—a record for the company. She focuses on delivering value through strong performance metrics, including same-store sales growth and customer satisfaction. In 2021, her leadership led the company to achieve a system sales growth of 10%. Notably, she was also involved in Yum China's secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, pushing innovative boundaries in a tough market. Her compensation reflects a pay-for-performance philosophy, showcasing the company's commitment to strong leadership. Despite the overall challenges in the restaurant sector, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, she has guided the company to adapt, emphasizing digital strategies and delivery services to keep up with changing consumer habits.