Management

Gang Chen

Chairman, Executive Director 

Mr. Gang Chen was appointed chairman of the board on September 17, 2021. Mr. Chen is a partner of Ascendent Capital Partners, where he has been actively involved in managing its portfolio companies and accumulated extensive experience in operations and corporate management. Prior to joining Ascendent, he served as the chief strategist for Biltmore Capital Group and head of alternative investment group for CMS Companies. Mr. Chen received his bachelor’s degree from East China Normal University where he worked for two years as a college teacher after graduation. He obtained a master of business administration degree from the Yale School of Management. 

Chimin Cao

Honorary Chairman, Co-founder and Director

Mr. Chimin Cao is our co-founder and has served as chairman of the board since our inception. On September 17, 2021, Mr. Cao resigned from chairman and was redesignated as honorary chairman. Mr. Cao has a wealth of experience in the early childhood education industry. Together with Ms. Yanlai Shi, Mr. Cao established our first play-and-learn center in 1998 and then incorporated Beijing RYB to expand our operations in July 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Cao founded Beijing Dongrun Fandoule Kepu Entertainment Co. Ltd. in 1996 as the first franchise to introduce Fun Dazzle indoor playgrounds to Beijing. Mr. Cao received his joint master’s degree of management from the Australian National University and Tsinghua University in 2007.

Yanlai Shi

Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder and Executive Director 

Ms. Yanlai Shi is our co-founder and has served as director and chief executive officer since our inception. Ms. Shi is a pioneer of the early childhood education industry in China. Ms. Shi also holds various positions, including a member of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Fengtai District, Beijing, and a representative of the 11th National Congress of Chinese Women. Ms. Shi has received many honors in the business world as well. To name a few, she was awarded “Leader of Education Industry” in 2016 and “The Most Influential Business Women in China” in 2014. Ms. Shi received her bachelor’s degree in law from Peking University and joint master’s degree in management from the Australian National University and Tsinghua University.

Siyuan Wang

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Siyuan Wang joined RYB in 2023 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining GEHI, from 2018 to 2023, Mr. Wang served as chief financial officer and financial controller at Ucommune International Ltd. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Wang also served as chief financial officer of UK Wisdom Limited, which is sponsored by a majority-owned subsidiary of Ucommune International Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Wang worked in the audit and assurance function of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC in the United States from 2012 to 2018. Mr. Wang received a master degree in accounting from Michigan State University and a bachelor degree in finance and accounting from the University of Idaho. Mr. Wang has been an American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) since September 2014.