CHINA. The Moodie Davitt Report Chief China Representative Zhang Yimei has left the company to join Avolta as Shanghai Duty Free, General Manager & China General Manager, effective 8 June.
As reported, Avolta was awarded the Shanghai Pudong International Airport Terminal 1 and Satellite Hall departures and arrivals duty-free concession in late 2025, commencing operations on 1 January this year.
Yimei set up The Moodie Davitt Report’s China entity – Moodie (Hainan) Tourism Information & Technology Co – based out of Haikou, Hainan province in June 2023 and has headed it with much success since.
The Hainan operation, which publishes daily news on our China TR Express (穆迪达维特免税快讯) WeChat* platform and serves as a constant story feeder to The Moodie Davitt Report, continues under the leadership of China TR Express Editor Dachang Wang.
Before joining The Moodie Davitt Report, Zhang was Deputy General Manager at Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co (HTDF) in Sanya, where she played a leading role in the retailer’s successful development following its December 2020 opening.
Earlier in her highly distinguished career, she worked for China Duty Free Group from 1995 to 2001, both as a buyer for confectionery, tobacco, liquor and electronics and as Business Development Manager and Secretary of the Board and Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Downtown Duty Free Store.
Zhang, a Chinese national, also served renowned Singapore food & confectionery specialist Focus Network Agencies with great success for 17 years, driving the company’s entire China duty-free business.
A standout of that period was her leadership role in building the first (and still biggest) chocolate boutique in a Chinese airport – The Cocoa Trees at Haikou Meilan International Airport.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie paid tribute to Zhang Yimei, commenting: “Yimei has done an outstanding job over the past three years, setting up a now thriving China and Hainan operation from scratch, representing us with distinction at various events and at the highest level in China and beyond.
“One of her great achievements has been to nurture Dachang’s development as a journalist and first-class representative for the company. As a result, he is now well-placed to take our China operation forward, alongside me and Penny Zhou from our Hong Kong, China operation, bolstered by our UK and Ireland team,” Moodie continued.
After graduation, Dachang Wang served as Brand Manager in the HTDF marketing department before joining The Moodie Davitt Report in May 2023. During the ensuing three years, he has helped China TR Express become a much-read travel retail platform, notable for the speed and accuracy of its coverage.
Moodie concluded: “Though I am very sorry to lose Yimei from our organisation, we are in good shape with Dachang, Penny and me leading our China coverage. I congratulate Yimei on securing such a key role with a great company in Avolta. I thank her wholeheartedly and wish her well in the exciting next stage of an outstanding career journey.” ✈
