Leadership transition reinforces management&#39;s long-term alignment with shareholdersSHANGHAI, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:NCTY) (&#34;The9&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a global diversified

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="prntac"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Leadership transition reinforces management&#39;s long-term alignment with shareholders</i></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SHANGHAI, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">July 27, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) (&#34;The9&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a global diversified high-tech company, today announced the appointment of George Lai as Chief Executive Officer (&#34;CEO&#34;), effective July 27, 2026. Mr. Lai succeeds Founder and Chairman Jun Zhu, who will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board.</p>
<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Leadership Transition</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Mr. Lai joined The9 approximately 18 years ago and has served as Chief Financial Officer (&#34;CFO&#34;) since 2008, playing a central role in capital allocation, treasury strategy, the build-out of the9bit, and the Company&#39;s return to profitability. Wei Ji, Senior Legal Director, will assume interim CFO responsibilities while the Company conducts a search for a permanent successor.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;This is a meaningful turning point for The9,&#34; said Mr. Zhu. &#34;I have spent more than two decades guiding the Company through successive cycles of change. As we enter a new era defined by AI and digital assets, handing the CEO role to George is the right decision at the right time. He understands this business deeply, and I have no doubt he will take The9 further than I could alone. I remain fully committed to the Company as Executive Chairman. The transition will also let me spend more time on the things I care about outside work, football above all, and my growing interest in super-longevity science, which I will continue to share with the community that has followed me for many years.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;I am honored to step into this role at such a significant moment for The9,&#34; said Mr. Lai. &#34;the9bit is not just another creator platform, it is AI-native, integrating creation, monetization and a <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem in one product. In under a year it has reached 8 million users who have built more than 110,000 games on our proprietary AI platform. That is the foundation. Our focus now is to turn that traction into a durable business by scaling the platform, strengthening its underlying economics, and advancing our broader <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> and AI initiatives. I believe the best is ahead of us.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About The9 Limited</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) is a global, diversified high-tech company redefining how games are created, played, and monetized. Founded in 1999 and Nasdaq-listed since 2004, The9 brings over two decades of gaming heritage to its flagship platform <b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">the9bit</b>, an AI-powered <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem built around AI game creation and the $9BIT <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span> economy, where every participant can play, create, earn, and own a stake in its growth. Beyond the9bit, The9 continues to explore emerging opportunities across AI-empowered industries and the broader digital ecosystem, including an equity stake in AI-driven drug discovery company NYB, building a multi-engine business positioned at the frontier of AI and the new economy, reshaping how value is created and shared.</p>



<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PURL"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CN12345&amp;sd=2026-07-27"></img> View original content:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9-names-george-lai-chief-executive-officer-302834906.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9-names-george-lai-chief-executive-officer-302834906.html</a></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SOURCE The9 Limited</p>

NCTY

The9 Names George Lai Chief Executive Officer

The9 Names George Lai CEO as Founder Zhu Stays on as Executive Chairman

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>Leadership transition reinforces management&amp;#39;s long-term alignment with shareholdersSHANGHAI, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:NCTY) (&amp;#34;The9&amp;#34; or the &amp;#34;Company&amp;#34;), a global diversified</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>The9 Limited appoints George Lai as CEO, effective July 27, 2026, with founder Jun Zhu remaining as Executive Chairman. Lai has led the company’s finances since 2008, guiding profitability and capital allocation as 9bit scales. The transition reinforces management alignment with shareholders as The9 expands its AI-native digital asset ecosystem.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>George Lai named CEO. Jun Zhu remains executive chairman.</li><li>Lai, CFO since 2008, to lead strategy; Wei Ji interim CFO.</li><li>9bit platform shows traction: 8 million users, 110,000 games.</li><li>Executive transition emphasizes AI/digital asset scaling and shareholder alignment.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>The9 Limited (NCTY)</strong>: CEO transition with founder remaining as Executive Chairman; potential long-term governance stability.</li><li><strong>NYB (NYB)</strong>: The9 holds an equity stake; potential upside if NYB progresses in AI-driven drug discovery.</li><li><strong>9BIT Token (9BIT)</strong>: Integral to the9bit ecosystem; token dynamics and demand could influence platform economics.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Corporate Developments; Leadership Change signals strategic continuity and governance alignment with shareholders, relevant for NCTY given the 9BIT ecosystem and AI/digital asset focus.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Leadership change may boost credibility and reduce execution risk for The9.</li><li>9bit traction: 8 million users and 110,000 games bolster monetization potential.</li><li>Interim CFO appointment could delay permanent finance leadership; watch for hiring timing.</li><li>AI/digital asset strategy and NYB stake could influence valuation and capital allocation.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>George Lai named CEO of The9, effective July 27, 2026.</li><li>Lai previously CFO since 2008, ~18 years with The9.</li><li>Wei Ji to assume interim CFO duties during search for permanent successor.</li><li>9bit has 8 million users and 110,000 games built in under a year.</li><li>The9 emphasizes AI-native platform and digital asset ecosystem around 9BIT.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Bullish on NCTY over 6–12 months as leadership stability supports monetization of 9BIT and platform scale.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="prntac"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Leadership transition reinforces management&#39;s long-term alignment with shareholders</i></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SHANGHAI, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">July 27, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) (&#34;The9&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a global diversified high-tech company, today announced the appointment of George Lai as Chief Executive Officer (&#34;CEO&#34;), effective July 27, 2026. Mr. Lai succeeds Founder and Chairman Jun Zhu, who will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board.</p>
<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Leadership Transition</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Mr. Lai joined The9 approximately 18 years ago and has served as Chief Financial Officer (&#34;CFO&#34;) since 2008, playing a central role in capital allocation, treasury strategy, the build-out of the9bit, and the Company&#39;s return to profitability. Wei Ji, Senior Legal Director, will assume interim CFO responsibilities while the Company conducts a search for a permanent successor.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;This is a meaningful turning point for The9,&#34; said Mr. Zhu. &#34;I have spent more than two decades guiding the Company through successive cycles of change. As we enter a new era defined by AI and digital assets, handing the CEO role to George is the right decision at the right time. He understands this business deeply, and I have no doubt he will take The9 further than I could alone. I remain fully committed to the Company as Executive Chairman. The transition will also let me spend more time on the things I care about outside work, football above all, and my growing interest in super-longevity science, which I will continue to share with the community that has followed me for many years.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;I am honored to step into this role at such a significant moment for The9,&#34; said Mr. Lai. &#34;the9bit is not just another creator platform, it is AI-native, integrating creation, monetization and a <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem in one product. In under a year it has reached 8 million users who have built more than 110,000 games on our proprietary AI platform. That is the foundation. Our focus now is to turn that traction into a durable business by scaling the platform, strengthening its underlying economics, and advancing our broader <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> and AI initiatives. I believe the best is ahead of us.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About The9 Limited</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The9 Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCTY">NCTY</a>) is a global, diversified high-tech company redefining how games are created, played, and monetized. Founded in 1999 and Nasdaq-listed since 2004, The9 brings over two decades of gaming heritage to its flagship platform <b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">the9bit</b>, an AI-powered <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">digital asset</span> ecosystem built around AI game creation and the $9BIT <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">token</span> economy, where every participant can play, create, earn, and own a stake in its growth. Beyond the9bit, The9 continues to explore emerging opportunities across AI-empowered industries and the broader digital ecosystem, including an equity stake in AI-driven drug discovery company NYB, building a multi-engine business positioned at the frontier of AI and the new economy, reshaping how value is created and shared.</p>



<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PURL"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CN12345&amp;sd=2026-07-27"></img> View original content:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9-names-george-lai-chief-executive-officer-302834906.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the9-names-george-lai-chief-executive-officer-302834906.html</a></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SOURCE The9 Limited</p>

The9 Limited appoints George Lai as CEO, effective July 27, 2026, with founder Jun Zhu remaining as Executive Chairman. Lai has led the company’s finances since 2008, guiding profitability and capital allocation as 9bit scales. The transition reinforces management alignment with shareholders as The9 expands its AI-native digital asset ecosystem.

News insight

The9 Names George Lai Chief Executive Officer

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Corporate Developments