It is perhaps surprising to discover that the executive circles of the financial industry closely resemble an exclusive network of China's elite 985-project universities. Among the 42 A-share listed banks, a remarkable number of chairpersons and presidents share the same alma mater. If these leaders were to gather for an industry conference, it might easily turn into an alumni reunion.
University Rankings for A-Share Bank Chairpersons and Presidents
Fudan University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics lead the rankings. According to statistics, across the 42 A-share listed banks, eight universities have each produced two current chairpersons, placing them in the top tier. These eight institutions are Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Central University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing University, Xiamen University, Sichuan University, and Jilin University. For instance, Fang Heying of China CITIC Bank and Shao Hui of Zijin Bank both studied at Peking University; Gu Jianzhong of Bank of Shanghai and Liu Xiaojun of Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank both graduated from Fudan University; and Zhuang Lingjun of Bank of Ningbo and Huang Jianjun of Bank of Chengdu are alumni of Sichuan University. Additionally, universities such as Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and Renmin University of China also have alumni in chairperson roles.
In the president category, Fudan University leads with four alumni, followed closely by Renmin University of China with three. Fudan's four alumni (including acting presidents) are Wang Xiaoqing of China Merchants Bank, Zhang Jingke of Bank of Hangzhou, Wang Ming of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank, and Liu Xiaojun, who also serves as acting president and chairperson of Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank. Renmin University's three alumni include Liu Jun of ICBC, Zhang Yi of China Construction Bank, and Wu Xianming of Bank of Qingdao. Peking University has two alumni: Ji Guangheng of Ping An Bank and Dai Wei of Bank of Beijing. Combining both roles, Fudan University ranks first with six appointments, Peking University and Renmin University of China are tied for second with four each, and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics follows in fourth place with three.
Alumni from Renmin University and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics Span Diverse Bank Types
Executive backgrounds are concentrated in a select number of institutions, leading to intriguing alumni combinations where graduates from the same school often cover different bank categories and core positions. For example, Wu Lijun, chairperson of China Everbright Bank, and Liu Jun, president of ICBC, lead a joint-stock bank and a state-owned bank, respectively. Combined with Zhang Yi, president of China Construction Bank, who holds dual educational backgrounds from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and Renmin University, and Wu Xianming, president of Bank of Qingdao, Renmin alumni now span state-owned, joint-stock, and city commercial banks.
Similarly, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics boasts Lv Jiajin, chairperson of Industrial Bank, Zhang Yi, president of China Construction Bank, and Xu Dengyi, president of Bank of Chengdu, who are distributed across joint-stock, state-owned, and city commercial banks, holding roles from chairperson to president—a true "talent pool for bank executives."
The case of Peking University is particularly representative. Ji Guangheng, president of Ping An Bank, completed all three stages of his education—an undergraduate degree in economic geography, a master's in human geography, and a doctorate in regional economics—at Peking University, earning him the label of a "pure-blooded Peking University graduate." In contrast, Fang Heying, chairperson of China CITIC Bank, pursued an EMBA at Peking University, representing a path of returning to school after starting his career. Despite their different educational journeys, both have risen to senior bank leadership.
Diverse Backgrounds: Overseas Degrees, Doctorates, and Non-Finance Majors
While domestic universities remain the primary source of A-share bank chairpersons and presidents, overseas degrees and doctorates are also common, and many leaders do not come from finance backgrounds. In terms of overseas education, Liu Jun, president of ICBC, holds an MBA from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, USA, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in addition to his undergraduate degree from Renmin University. Lu Wei, president of Postal Savings Bank of China, earned a master's in accounting from Deakin University in Australia. Guan Wenjie, chairperson of Bank of Beijing, holds a Master of Arts from Flinders University in Australia, and Jing Zailun, chairperson of Bank of Qingdao, has an MBA from City, University of London.
Doctoral degrees are also not uncommon among bank leaders, and many did not pursue a direct path from bachelor's to doctorate. For example, Liao Lin, chairperson of ICBC, completed his undergraduate studies at Guangxi Agricultural University before earning a Doctor of Management from Southwest Jiaotong University. Xie Yonglin, chairperson of Ping An Bank, progressed from a master's in science to a Doctor of Management at Nanjing University.
Interestingly, bank leaders do not all follow the standard template of finance-focused studies from undergraduate to doctoral levels. Gu Shu, chairperson of Agricultural Bank of China, majored in engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University for his undergraduate degree. Gao Yingxin, chairperson of China Minsheng Bank, holds a master's in engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, and Liao Lin, chairperson of ICBC, started with an undergraduate degree in agriculture. Yet, all have successfully transitioned into careers in finance and management.
After reviewing the educational backgrounds of these A-share bank chairpersons and presidents, aspiring professionals in the banking industry may now have a clearer sense of their academic goals.
Appendix: A table listing the alma maters of chairpersons and presidents of the 42 A-share listed banks, as of August 25, 2026.
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