On August 28, New China Life Insurance Company Ltd. announced that it had received official approval from the National Financial Regulatory Administration regarding the qualification of Ms. Zhang Xiufen as an independent director. The regulatory body's response, referenced as Jin Fu [2026] No. 470, formally endorsed her appointment to the board.
Ms. Zhang's tenure as an independent director commenced on August 25, 2026, and will continue until the conclusion of the company's ninth board of directors' term. This marks the beginning of her official duties with the insurer, as outlined in the company's latest filing.
Born in August 1952, Ms. Zhang holds Chinese nationality and is also a permanent resident of Hong Kong. Her professional portfolio includes serving as co-convener of the Asia Pacific Structured Finance Association and as a visiting professor at the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In addition, she holds directorships and advisory roles across several organizations, including the Ming Tak Engineering Foundation, the China Securitization Forum, and the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute's technical advisory group.
Previously, Ms. Zhang served as chief legal counsel and company secretary at the CUHK Medical Centre and at the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited. She was also a member of the working group focused on enhancing Hong Kong's position as a global offshore RMB hub under the Financial Services Development Council. Her legal credentials include qualifications as a solicitor in both the High Court of Hong Kong and the Supreme Court of England and Wales, alongside fellowships with the Chartered Governance Institute and the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute. Ms. Zhang earned her Bachelor of Laws in 1977 and Master of Laws in 1978 from University College London.