From Walmart to Ole’ Grocery, China’s Foreign Retail Embraces the ‘Era of Female Leaders

Peter Drucker once said, “The shift of the times happens to align with the characteristics of women.” This statement is being repeatedly validated in China’s retail industry today. On October 1st, Christoph Schwaiger, the former CEO of ALDI China, announced on the professional social media platform LinkedIn that ALDI China had undergone a leadership change. The new CEO is Jacqueline Chen (Chen Jia), the current Managing Director of ALDI China. She will fully lead the operations in China and report directly to ALDI’s global CEO. This also means that Chen Jia is the second CEO in ALDI’s history in China, and the first local Chinese CEO.According to public information, Chen Jia has previously worked for Walmart, Metro, and Morgan Stanley. Before this leadership change, she served as Managing Director of ALDI China, where she led major strategic upgrades for the company in the Chinese market.Who is Jacqueline Chen?Jacqueline Chen’s career began in the fields of consulting and finance. From 2003 to 2011, she worked as a senior analyst at Conyell Consulting and as a senior advisor at Morgan Stanley Investment Banking. In July 2011, she transitioned into the retail industry by joining Metro China, where she held leadership roles in strategic planning, marketing, pricing, and procurement. In 2017, she was promoted to Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer of Metro China, during which time Metro China started aggressively promoting its “private label” strategy.

In 2019, Metro was acquired by Wumart Group, and Jacqueline Chen moved on to Walmart China. She initially served as the Vice President of Fresh Procurement, and in 2020, she was promoted to Chief Merchandise Procurement Officer. At Walmart, she led the development and establishment of private label brands such as increasing private label sales to 20%, while also actively exploring new business models such as community stores.In February 2023, she officially joined ALDI as Managing Director of China. During her tenure, ALDI China has continuously increased the proportion of private label products, which started at 80% and has now grown to 90%, with over 80% of ALDI’s products sourced from local suppliers. In April of this year, ALDI officially expanded beyond Shanghai, opening stores in Wuxi and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, a move announced by Jacqueline Chen.In response to the leadership transition, Christoph Schwaiger stated that under Jacqueline Chen’s leadership, ALDI China will continue to grow, offering her his best wishes: “Your future will be even brighter.”The Rise of Women Leaders in Retail.Jacqueline Chen’s rise is not an isolated case. According to an incomplete statistic from YiLan Business, several multinational retail companies, including Walmart, Aeon, and 7-Eleven, have either appointed or are currently employing Chinese women as executives or top decision-makers.

The first Chinese national to rise to the highest decision-making position in a multinational retail company was Zhu Changlai, the first CEO of IKEA China. She joined IKEA in 1996 and was known as IKEA’s “No. 001 employee,” starting from the grassroots level and moving through various positions. In May 2013, she was appointed President of IKEA China, and in early 2020, she resigned and returned to China to start her own home goods brand, Chapter Home.Following her was Zhu Jing, who officially became the Chairman of AEON China in 2014, becoming the top decision-maker for AEON in China. She has held this position for 11 years, successfully leading AEON into rapid growth through a market extension strategy and the development of sub-sectors, resulting in record-breaking profits in 2018.Since 2020, more women have risen to leadership roles: In 2020, Huang Yamei was appointed General Representative for Ito Yokado China and Chairwoman of Chengdu Ito Yokado Co., Ltd; in 2020, Zhu Xiaojing became President and CEO of Walmart China; in 2022, Yan Qian became Chairman of 7-Eleven China; in 2023, Zhang Shuyun was appointed General Manager of Costco China; and in 2024, Zhang Xiaoyan became Chief Marketing Officer of Decathlon China.Why are these Foreign Retailers Choosing Female Leaders?The emergence of these female CEOs in traditionally male-dominated industries is no accident. Their competence is their strongest asset.

Most of these female leaders joined the companies early, gained experience in various roles, and have a deep understanding of each stage of the company’s development. Their outstanding business and management skills have led to tangible improvements in performance.For example, in 2014, AEON China started incurring losses amounting to HK$125 million, and by 2015, the losses grew to HK$160 million. Amid these consecutive years of losses, Zhu Jing was promoted to Chairman, taking full responsibility for AEON’s business expansion in China. By 2024, AEON China had climbed to the 24th spot on the list of the top 100 retail chains, with annual sales reaching RMB 30.309 billion, a dramatic increase in sales per store.In 2020, after the onset of the pandemic, Walmart China saw its first female president and CEO, Zhu Xiaojing. She made strategic adjustments to both Walmart China’s hypermarkets and Sam’s Club businesses, actively expanding their operations and sustaining market share. By the second quarter of FY2026 (as of July 2025), Walmart China’s net sales had grown by 30.1%, reaching USD 5.8 billion.Women’s leadership in retail is also often characterized by their exceptional empathy, attention to detail, and strong communication skills—traits that are often more prominent in women.

Additionally, women have a more refined sensitivity to consumer trends related to family consumption, health, and emotional connections.The Importance of Female Leaders for Localization.From a strategic perspective, appointing local female CEOs is a key step in deepening localization. Externally, it conveys the company’s values of local integration and diversity, helping to enhance brand affinity and attract both talent and consumers. Internally, it fosters a more equal, collaborative, and dynamic corporate culture.Indeed, the rise of female leaders is not limited to foreign enterprises; it has also spread to local companies. For example, in 2022, Yang Lijuan, known as “the best server” at Haidilao, succeeded Zhang Yong as CEO. In 2023, Xu Ran became JD’s first female CEO, rising from her position as the most trusted lieutenant to JD’s founder, Liu Qiangdong. In March 2024, Yan Xiaolei became the first female CEO of Hema Xiansheng after the founder Hou Yi retired.As more women shatter the “glass ceiling” and reach the power centers of their respective companies, they are bringing more than just revenue growth—they are ushering in a more inclusive, balanced, and sustainable business culture. The “shift of the times” mentioned by Drucker may very well point to a future where leadership is no longer confined to gender, but instead, is defined by the ability to connect, understand, and inspire people—qualities that can lead organizations to greater success.