HNA chairman dies in accident in France

The chairman and co-founder of HNA Group, Wang Jian, died on Tuesday in an accident while on a business trip in Provence in southern France, the company announced on Wednesday.

According to a statement from the company, Wang, 57, was severely injured after a fall, and later died after he was unable to recover from his injuries. The website and official WeChat account of HNA group are displayed in black and white in a sign of mourning.

“We mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy,” said the official English statement.

Wang’s death comes at a difficult time for the company he co-founded in 1993, as HNA divests from many of its overseas assets out of concerns about its debt load.