Joey Wat

Joey Chui Yung Wat (; born 26 June 1971) is the chief executive officer of Yum China. She also was CEO of KFC China, managing director of A.S. Watson Group UK, and spent seven years in management consulting.

As of May 2020, she is one of only 37 female CEOs on the Fortune 500.

Early life and education Wat was born on June 26, 1971, in a poor neighborhood near Fuzhou, China. Wat's family moved to Hong Kong around 1980. She worked at a factory that created plastic flower arrangements starting at the age of nine. and also worked as a waitress between the ages of 15 and 18. She graduated third in her class in high school

After high school, Wat attended the University of Hong Kong, where she studied development economics. she returned to her hometown in Fuzhou. She saw that the area had prospered due to private investment. She decided to go into business, initially working at AT Kearney, a business consultancy. where she earned a Master's degree in Business Administration.

Career Wat started her career as a consultant at A.T. Kearney, and then from 2000 to 2003 as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in Hong Kong.

She joined A.S. Watson Group UK in 2004, becoming head of strategy for over 10 countries in Europe and managing director of A.S. Watson Group UK.

In 2014, Wat left A.S. Watson Group and moved back to China, where she started working for Yum! Brands. Wat started as the President of KFC China in 2014. She was promoted to CEO of KFC China in 2015. Wat studied KFC's business for six months prior to her appointment and submitted a report to the board on her strategy shortly after starting.

Wat modernized KFC’s China business with digital marketing, delivery services, online payments, renovated stores, and new uniforms created by fashion designers. overseeing the China operations of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other restaurant brands, Wat focused on digital initiatives and modernization like she did for KFC. By 2020 over 90% of customer payments were digital. She also implemented an online loyalty program that exceeded 300 million participants by 2021. and expanded on Yum China's health insurance program for families of store managers. At the start of the pandemic, Wat temporarily closed one-third of Yum China's locations, most of which were re-opened a few weeks later. 2022, 2021 as well as Fortune Magazines list of Most Powerful Women, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and Fortune China's Most Powerful Women in Business list in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018 and Fortune Chinas list of China's 50 Most Influential Business Leaders in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018 Business Insiders list of 100 People Transforming Business in Asia 2020.