Early Life
Ding Shizhong was born in December 1970, into a Muslim family in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, China. At a young age, he began working to help his family financially. Ding's father was a shoe manufacturer, and Ding started by reselling his father's shoes, developing a passion for the industry.
Rise to Success
Ding's entrepreneurial journey began in the mid-1980s, buying and selling shoes from a relative's factory. In 1991, he established his own manufacturing operation, and founded Anta as a brand. Anta Sports was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007. Ding adopted a multi-brand strategy by acquiring brands like FILA, which became Anta's best-performing brand. In 2019, Anta led a consortium to acquire Amer Sports, expanding its global reach.
Key Business Strategies
Ding emphasizes creating “mutual value” with consumers, partners, employees, the environment, and society. He changed Anta's business model from a wholesale to retail sales model. Ding has been instrumental in building a culture of innovation and collaboration within Anta, pushing boundaries in product design and marketing. Anta focuses on research and development.
Philanthropy
Ding Shizhong is committed to philanthropy. He donated RMB 14 million to help recovery efforts after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. In January 2022, he donated shares worth USD $1.2 billion to the Hemin Foundation. Ding's philanthropic efforts reflect his belief in using success to positively impact society.
