On October 30, Giant Network's PR head Ma Quanzhi addressed the resignation of former CEO Zhang Dong on social media, stating that the personnel change would have limited impact on the company.
Ma mentioned, "Mr. Zhang resigned for personal reasons. The board of directors sincerely appreciates his contributions during his tenure."
He further explained, "Giant Network primarily operates two key divisions: the 'Journey' division and the 'Ball Ball' division, along with other projects in development and operation. The company has adopted an integrated R&D, operation, and publishing model, granting full decision-making authority to division leaders. This allows them to oversee all aspects of a game—from development to launch—ensuring management efficiency. This approach has clear benefits: empowering division leaders boosts motivation, enhances decision-making speed, and avoids internal friction and corporate bureaucracy. It also laid the foundation for the success of our hit game *Supernatural Action Squad*."
Below is the full response from Ma Quanzhi:
"Thank you for the industry’s concern regarding Giant Network. The announcement has drawn significant attention, with many—both inside and outside the company—finding it sudden. The main questions are: Why did Mr. Zhang leave, and how will this affect Giant Network?
As stated, Mr. Zhang resigned for personal reasons. The board has expressed gratitude for his contributions, detailed in the announcement. Today, I’ll focus on the second question: the impact on Giant’s future.
Since early 2023, Giant has implemented an integrated R&D, operation, and publishing model. The company’s core divisions—Journey and Ball Ball—along with other projects, operate under this structure. Division leaders have full autonomy, streamlining processes and preventing inefficiencies. This model, proposed by Chairman Shi Yuzhu, stems from two key factors:
1. His long-standing advocacy for empowering young talent with high autonomy. For example, Zhao Jianfeng (born in 1987), head of the Journey division and producer of *Original Journey*, and Wang Xinyu (born in 1995), head of the Ball Ball division and producer of *Supernatural Action Squad*, were both promoted as young leaders under his guidance. 2. His return to frontline R&D in August 2022, where he repeatedly highlighted Giant’s bureaucratic issues and called for reviving a 'wolf culture.' Under this structure, core divisions report directly to him.
Mr. Zhang joined Giant in 2024, primarily overseeing incubation projects. His departure will not significantly impact core divisions or the company’s overall operations. He has fulfilled his role in this phase, paving the way for younger teams to drive innovation and vitality. As Chairman Shi puts it, 'Gaming is a young person’s industry—let those who understand the business best lead it.'"
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