Hu Li
Future FinTech GroupAbout Hu Li
Hu Li is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Future FinTech Group Inc. (FTFT), serving since August 5, 2024; he previously served as Corporate Secretary from June 2019 and CEO/Director of FTFT International Securities and Futures Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, since January 2024 . He is age 51 as of October 2025 and holds an MBA from Xi’an Technology University (2008) and a bachelor’s degree from Xi’an Fanyi University (1996) . Company-level performance metrics disclosed in the proxy show compensation actually paid (CAP) for PEO #2 (Hu Li) of $49,389 in 2024, with the company reporting cumulative TSR values and net income figures in the pay-versus-performance table; FTFT’s 2024 CAP to PEO #2 was $49,389, TSR “value of initial $100 investment” recorded at (83.43), and net income presented as (32995434) in the table . He signed FTFT’s June 16, 2025 Form 8-K as CEO, evidencing active tenure .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future FinTech Group Inc. | Corporate Secretary | Jun 2019 – present | Governance and disclosure process continuity; internal controls support . |
| FTFT International Securities and Futures Limited (subsidiary) | Director and CEO | Jan 2024 – present | Expansion of regulated financial services; operational leadership in brokerage/derivatives . |
| Future FinTech Group Inc. | Chief Executive Officer and Director | Aug 2024 – present | Transition leadership following CEO resignation; stabilization of management structure . |
| Anhui Yihai Mining Equipment Co., Ltd. (China NEEQ: 831451) | Chief Supervisor | Feb 2018 – Jul 2021 | Oversight of governance at public company in China; compliance and supervisory functions . |
| Shaanxi Huipu Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. | Vice General Manager | Sep 2015 – Feb 2018 | Asset financing operations leadership; credit and leasing growth experience . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shineco, Inc. (Nasdaq: SISI) | Director | Sep 2021 – present | Independent director; cross-market governance exposure . |
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Base Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49,389 | — | — | — | 49,389 |
- Executive officers do not receive additional compensation for serving as directors at FTFT; Hu Li’s director compensation for 2024 was $— .
Performance Compensation
- No performance bonus or equity awards were disclosed for Hu Li for 2024; FTFT reported “No outstanding equity awards” for named executive officers as of December 31, 2024 .
- The proxy’s pay-versus-performance table shows Hu Li’s “compensation actually paid” (CAP) in 2024 was $49,389, with company-level TSR and net income disclosed; the company did not disclose an executive scorecard linking his pay to specific performance metrics (e.g., revenue, EBITDA, TSR targets) .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Date (reference) | Shares Beneficially Owned | Ownership % of Shares Outstanding | Vested vs Unvested | Pledging/Hedging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2024 | — | — | N/A | No pledging disclosed . |
| Apr 11, 2025 | 30,000 | <1% | N/A (no outstanding awards at 12/31/24) | No pledging disclosed . |
- As of April 11, 2025, FTFT had 3,050,770 shares outstanding (post 1-for-10 reverse split April 1, 2025); Hu Li’s 30,000 shares equate to less than 1% ownership .
- No options/RSUs outstanding as of year-end 2024 were disclosed for Hu Li; no exercisable/unexercisable option breakdowns were applicable .
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective date | August 5, 2024 |
| Role | CEO, President, and Director; reports to Chairman and Board . |
| Contract term | Three years; renewable by mutual agreement . |
| Base salary | $7,000 per month before tax (paid monthly) . |
| Vacation | 8 days paid per year . |
| Severance | None; Executive not entitled to severance under Section 4 . |
| Non-compete | Six months post-termination; applies to all territories where FTFT does business; ownership up to 5% of another enterprise permitted . |
| Confidentiality | Ongoing non-disclosure of Company confidential information . |
| Indemnification | Company to indemnify to maximum extent under applicable law; D&O insurance coverage if obtained . |
| Governing law & venue | Florida law; actions in Florida courts . |
| Notices | Addresses specified; Chairman as Company addressee |
Board Service, Committees, and Governance
- Board service: Hu Li serves as a Director since August 2024; as CEO he is not independent under typical standards .
- Committee roles: The 2025 slate lists David Xu as Chairman; committee chairs are independent directors (Mingyong Hu as Audit Chair; Mingjie Zhao as Compensation Chair). Hu Li is not listed as a member of the Audit or Compensation Committees .
- Director compensation: Executives do not receive director fees; Hu Li recorded $— for 2024 .
- Dual-role implications: CEO + Director representation at the board level concentrates managerial influence but the presence of a separate Chairman (David Xu) and independent committee chairs provides a counterbalance .
Company Pay-Versus-Performance Snapshot
| Year | SCT Total for PEO #2 (Hu Li) ($) | CAP to PEO #2 ($) | Value of Initial $100 Investment (TSR) | Net Income (Loss) ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | — | (67.93) | (16,652,688) |
| 2023 | — | — | (3.76) | (34,124,499) |
| 2024 | 49,389 | 49,389 | (83.43) | (32995434) |
- Notes: The table is presented as in FTFT’s DEF 14A; Hu Li appears as PEO #2 only in 2024; TSR values are proxy-reported; net income figures are those shown in the pay-versus-performance disclosure .
Investment Implications
- Cash-heavy, low variable pay: Hu Li’s compensation in 2024 was entirely base salary ($49,389), with no bonus and no equity awards; this limits pay-for-performance alignment but also reduces dilution and near-term insider selling pressure from vesting events .
- Retention and transition risk: The employment agreement’s three-year term and short six-month non-compete imply limited post-separation restrictions; absence of severance or change-of-control economics reduces potential golden parachute costs but may weaken retention during strategic uncertainty .
- Governance balance: CEO serves as a director, but the Chair is separate and key committees are chaired by independent directors, mitigating independence concerns associated with CEO-board dual roles .
- Skin in the game: Ownership of 30,000 shares (<1%) as of April 11, 2025 indicates modest alignment via direct stock exposure; absence of pledged shares reduces alignment risk flags .
- Trading signals: No outstanding equity awards and no disclosed option positions remove near-term vesting overhang; any insider trading analysis would require Form 4 data for confirmation beyond proxy holdings .