MILAN: Former world, European and Italian champions have a new president. Steven Zhang has stepped into the shoes once worn by the Moratti dynasty writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The 26-year-old, formally Kangyang Zhang, was voted in by the annual shareholders’ meeting in Milan.

He is  president of club owner Suning International, the overseas division of Suning Holdings Group – the commercial giant ranked second among the top 500 non-state-owned enterprises in China with annual revenues of €69bn.

Zhang is also a member of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee and is the 21st president in the club’s 110-year history. He replaces Indonesian Erick Thohir who was at the helm for five years, during which time Inter failed to win a major title.

He told shareholders: “I am extremely proud to lead this club into a new era. I feel the responsibility to satisfy the passion of the millions of fans all over the world and, I am more than ready to accept the challenge of president in this, the 110th year of this prestigious club.

“We will continue to make the sports performance the No1 focus of our attention, and make sure the team has all the best support necessary to compete and be successful at the very highest levels of both the international and domestic game.

“Off the pitch, we will make Inter as strong a company as it is on the pitch.

“We must build a strong ability in the commercial and marketing area and further strengthen the management team. Meanwhile, we will keep enlarging the scope of our business globally and we will continue explore further the possibilities of digital management and digital communications, to make Inter a leader in the technology field.”

Zhang graduated in economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania then worked as an analyst for Morgan Stanley.

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