Lei Ding

Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Netease

Search every verified Lei Ding interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Lei Ding, founder and CEO of NetEase, discussed the company’s first-quarter 2026 results during an earnings call on May 21, 2026. He stated that the board approved a dividend of USD 1.44 per share (USD 7.20 per ADS) for the quarter and noted that under a USD 5 billion share repurchase program, the company had repurchased 2.2 million ADS for approximately USD 2.1 billion as of March 31, 2026. Ding reported that the PC game *Journey Online* reached a new record of 3.9 million peak concurrent users in Q1, attributing the growth to the unlimited server expansion and steady performance of the time-based classic server. He also commented on the global expansion of *Where Winds Meet*, stating it held a 78% positive rating on Steam and ranked among the top two on Steam’s global top seller chart, indicating overseas player receptivity to the free-to-play, no pay-to-win model. Ding addressed the company’s approach to competition, saying, “We do not shy away from competition, but our focus is more on differentiation. Competition in our industry is not a zero-sum game.” He described upcoming titles, including *Sea of Thieves*, which he said is designed with characters at the heart of the experience and cosmetics customization as the core monetization model, and *Atlanta*, which he characterized as a genre breakthrough in the urban open-world space focused on immersive daily living experiences rather than map size or combat. Ding also highlighted NetEase’s environmental and governance efforts, noting a 12% year-over-year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an MSCI upgrade to a triple-A ranking, positioning the company as a leader among over 200 companies in the global media and entertainment industry.