China Telecom’s chairman Yang Jie (pictured) replaced Shang Bing as the head of China Mobile effective today (4 March).

In a statement China Mobile said Shang reached retirement age and resigned as executive director and chairman of the world’s largest mobile operator. Meanwhile, Yang resigned as executive director, chairman and CEO of China Telecom.

The operator, the third-largest in China by mobile subscribers, did not name a new CEO: it stated further announcements will be made as and when appropriate.

Ke Ruiwen is China Telecom’s president and COO. He was appointed to the position in October 2018.

Li Yue remains CEO of China Mobile.

The government periodically reshuffles senior executives at the country’s three state-run mobile operators.

Shang, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, was appointed as chairman of China Mobile in August 2015.

At the same time, China Unicom chairman Chang Xiaobing took the helm at China Telecom while his counterpart at China Telecom, Wang Xiaochu, became chairman of China Unicom.