Origin Agritech Restructures Board, Appoints Two New Independent Directors

Origin Agritech has appointed two new independent directors, Dr. Changqing Mao and Mr. Siu Laam Hau, as part of a board restructuring initiative. The new directors bring expertise in agricultural industry leadership and financial oversight. The board has been streamlined from seven to five members, with Mr. Cheng remaining as CFO. The appointments strengthen Origin's corporate governance capabilities.

Origin Agritech (NASDAQ: SEED), a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, has announced a significant board restructuring, reducing its Board of Directors from seven to five members. As part of this initiative, the company has appointed two new independent directors: Dr. Changqing Mao as Chairman of the Nomination Committee and Mr. Siu Laam Hau as Chairman of the Audit Committee Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[1].

The appointments come after four existing directors—Ms. Fei Wang, Dr. Michael Trimble, Dr. Min Lin, and Mr. Chi Kin Cheng—resigned effective September 12, 2025. Mr. Cheng will remain as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company. Dr. Mao brings extensive agricultural industry expertise, having held leadership positions at CITIC AgriScience and Yuan Longping Agricultural High-Tech. Mr. Hau contributes significant financial oversight experience as a Fellow Member of HKICPA and Executive Director of Asian Capital Limited Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[1]Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[2].

Dr. Changqing Mao, who holds a Doctoral degree and currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Center of China Agricultural University, has a distinguished career in senior executive leadership and strategic roles in the agricultural sector. Mr. Siu Laam Hau, a Fellow Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), brings extensive financial and corporate governance expertise, having previously served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Hong Kong-listed Trio Industrial Electronics Group Limited and at leading firms like KPMG and PKF Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[2].

"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our outgoing directors for their contributions and welcome Dr. Mao and Mr. Hau to Origin's Board of Directors," said Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman of the Board of Origin Agritech. "Dr. Mao's deep agricultural industry knowledge and proven track record in leading major agricultural enterprises will be invaluable as we continue to expand our biotechnology seed pipeline and market presence. Mr. Hau's extensive financial expertise and corporate governance experience will strengthen our oversight capabilities and support our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of financial reporting and risk management" Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[2].

The board restructuring aims to streamline governance and support the company's growth objectives. Origin Agritech, founded in 1997, is known for its innovations in crop seed biotechnologies, including the first transgenic corn to receive the Bio-Safety Certificate from China's Ministry of Agriculture. The company's robust biotechnology seed pipeline includes products with glyphosate tolerance and pest resistance (Bt) traits Origin Agritech Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors and Board Restructuring^[1].