(Yicai Global) July 31 -- China United Network Communications, one of the country's largest mobile carriers, said Chairman Liu Liehong resigned after being appointed head of the country’s newly established National Data Bureau.

Liu stepped down as chairman effective immediately, Beijing-based China Unicom announced late yesterday. He was named to his new role heading up the NDB on July 28.

Liu, 54, was previously deputy director of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and vice minister at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He had chaired China Unicom since September 2021.

China Unicom's earnings grew steadily over the course of Liu's tenure, with net profit jumping over 14 percent in 2021 from a year earlier and increasing by almost 16 percent the year after.

China set up the NDB in March to promote construction of basic data systems and coordinate integration, sharing, development, and utilization of data resources.

China Unicom’s shares [SHA: 600050] fell 2.6 percent to close at CNY5.16 (72 US cents) apiece in Shanghai today. The stock has gained more than 15 percent since the end of last year.

Editor: Martin Kadiev