Yi He, the businesswoman who co-founded crypto exchange giant Binance with former CEO Changpeng Zhao, is becoming the company’s co-CEO.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by Binance’s current CEO, Richard Teng, during Binance Blockchain Week.
Yi He, who until now served as Binance’s director of marketing, rarely appeared in public. Unlike Zha (known as “CZ”), who often appeared in the media, Yi He stayed out of the spotlight, focusing on strategic planning, branding and business expansion.
Born in 1988 in China, Yi He is considered a key strategist and innovation force that complemented CZ’s leadership during Binance’s growth into the world’s largest crypto exchange.
A Binance spokesperson said her new role as co-CEO will further strengthen the team of Richard Teng, a former regulator who led the company through US regulatory action and the transition after CZ left the company.
“Yi has been an integral part of Binance’s executive leadership since its inception. Her innovative and customer-centric approach has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture and business strategy from the ground up,” said Richard Teng. “This appointment is a natural step forward and she will continue to lead the organization from strength to strength.”
Teng added: “We remain committed to being the most trusted and regulated crypto exchange in the world, always putting our users first, reports Investor me. Yi is instrumental in growing the community and fostering innovation as we work to reach a billion users. Together, we are building the Web3 infrastructure and promoting financial freedom, empowering people to participate in a more open and fair financial system.”
Yi He said on the occasion of the appointment: “It is an honor to build Binance side by side with Richard, who brings decades of experience from regulated financial markets and was among the first to regulate cryptocurrencies in their early stages. We bring different perspectives and are confident that together we will lead the industry through this crucial period, while responsibly expanding our global presence and fostering sustainable innovation, always keeping users at the center of our actions.”
