Key facts
- Xu Yang has resigned as CEO of Anta's flagship brand.
- Anta Sports confirmed Xu Yang's resignation was for family reasons and he will take on a new role.
- Co-CEO Lai Shixian will serve as acting CEO of the Anta brand.
- The Anta brand's revenue growth in 2025 was 3.7%, falling short of the targeted 10-15% compound annual growth.
- Anta is reducing the number of its SV and Super Anta store formats.
Xu Yang, the CEO of Anta's flagship brand, has resigned for family reasons and will be transferred to another role within Anta Sports Products Ltd. The company confirmed the change, with co-CEO Lai Shixian stepping in as acting CEO for the Anta brand.
Xu Yang's departure comes as the Anta brand experiences slowing growth, with revenue rising only 3.7% in 2025, significantly below the 10-15% compound annual growth target he had set for the 2023-2026 period. This performance lagged behind the overall group's revenue growth of 13% and net profit growth of 15% during the same timeframe.
Under Xu Yang's leadership, Anta had initiated high-end retail transformations, including SV stores aimed at premium malls and sneaker collectors, and Super Anta outlets for mainstream shoppers. However, the scaling back of these formats is now evident, with the number of Super Anta stores reaching approximately 120 by June 2026 against a 2025 target of 160, and SV stores decreasing from 62 to around 41.
Xu Yang joined Anta in 2006 and previously led the brand's basketball division before managing Arc'teryx's Greater China business, where he was credited with improving store productivity. His return to lead the core Anta brand in January 2023 aimed to replicate that success through store segmentation and exclusive product strategies.
This management change at Anta's core brand occurs amidst a broader trend of personnel adjustments within the Chinese sportswear industry, as companies like 361 Degrees International and Amer Sports also bring in executives, often with Nike China experience, to navigate slowing financial performance.