“Together, we mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy,” the company’s remaining leaders said in a statement.<doc-sep>The CEO of one of China’s biggest companies has died in the south of France after reportedly falling from a wall while taking photographs. Sputnik wonders if Wang Jian’s death could turn out to be something more sinister. Wang Jian was the co-founder of HNA, which began as a regional airline and became one of China's biggest conglomerates. Mr. Wang, 57, was found dead on Tuesday, July 3, after suffering "severe injuries" in a fall in Provence in south-eastern France. Reports suggest he fell 10 feet from a wall while taking photographs of a cliffside church in the town of Bonnieux. It was actually this view and this wall where Wang Jian fell from: (I was tempted to stand on the wall myself)#wangJian #bonnieux pic.twitter.com/mvg9wFIJfj — Ken Bodnar (@ArtofWarm) 4 July 2018 ​In February, Bloomberg reported that Mr. Wang made a speech in which he claimed his company and others were coming under attack from "reactionary forces from both China and overseas countering China's rise." 'Evil Motives' "We are carrying out a great transformation; we are realizing the great dreams of the Secretary General [Xi Jinping]. They want to disrupt the entire Chinese economy, then disrupt HNA, leading to social unrest, subverting the entire 19th Party Congress, China's 'Belt and Road' initiative and the planning for further, deeper reform. This is their conspiracy, these are their evil motives, and they've been plotting for a long time," Mr. Wang told his company's employees, urging them to remain strong. HNA Group, which operates China's fourth-largest airline, posted a message on its website confirming Mr. Wang's death. everyone always seems to fall. this is yet another odd coincidence that can't be denied as truly bizarre/ not normal, considering the manner of death! — Ryan J. Kaz (@RyanJKaz) 4 July 2018 ​"HNA Group extends deepest condolences to Mr. Wang's family and many friends. Together, we mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy," said the company's co-founder Chen Feng and CEO Adam Tan. Conspiracy theories soon began circulating on China's most famous social media site, Weibo, but were soon shot down by a commander of the local gendarmerie in Bonnieux. conspiracies will abound around death of HNA's Wang Jian but anyone who has spent time with Chinese tourists will understand the risks some will take for the best photo. I am serious, this accident is totally believable — Bill Bishop (@niubi) 4 July 2018 ​"He stood on the edge of a sharp drop to get his family to take a picture of him and fell. Witness accounts point to a likely accident." Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Meriaux, of the Vaucluse gendarmerie, told Reuters. Gendarmerie Await Autopsy Lt. Col. Meriaux said an autopsy would determine the exact cause of death. Wang owned 15 percent of the shares in HNA, making him one of the richest men in China. HNA was founded in 1989 and found great success in the 1990s with Hainan Airlines, which flew millions of Chinese tourists from Beijing to the holiday island of Hainan in southern China. It later diversified into hotels — buying 25 percent of Hilton Worldwide — logistics and finance companies. There was a surge of interest in the French village of Bonnieux this morning. I wonder why… pic.twitter.com/bnD4hpkEDW — Tasos Vossos (@tasosvos) 4 July 2018 ​In the last 18 months it bought UDC Finance, one of the biggest lenders in New Zealand, for $ 660million, shares in airports in Germany and Brazil, spent $10 billion on an aircraft leasing business and also snapped up a New York skyscraper, 245 Park Avenue, for a cool $2.2 billion. In February last year HNA also bought a three percent stake in Deutsche Bank. He was poisoned. That's why he fell and died. — moon baby (@pra_laya) 4 July 2018 ​These deals have racked up mountains of debt but HNA Group has denied it is in financial difficulties. HNA has been selling some assets and in April announced it planned to sell some of its $6.5 billion stake in Hilton and had already sold a $1 billion share in Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.<doc-sep>Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice A Chinese billionaire has fallen to his death in France during a business trip. Wang Jian, co-chairman and co-founder of HNA Group, passed away on July 3 after a serious injury caused by a fall, a spokesman said today. HNA said Wang, 57, suffered a fall in Provence and received medical treatment but did not recover. "HNA Group extends deepest condolences to Mr Wang's family and many friends," HNA's board and management team said in a statement. "Together, we mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy." HNA is based on the southern Chinese island of Hainan and best known as the owner of Hainan Airlines. It has also held stakes in Deutsche Bank AG and Hilton Worldwide Holdings.<doc-sep>A Chinese billionaire died after falling 50 feet while posing for a photo on a business trip to southern France, police said. Wang Jian, the co-founder and co-chairman of the HNA group, a conglomerate that operates China‘s fourth-largest airline, died after suffering “severe injuries” in Provence, the company said. Mr Wang fell off a wall in the village of Bonnieux, near Avignon, a picturesque area popular with tourists, according to lieutenant-colonel Hubert Meriaux of the Vaucluse gendarmerie. “He stood on the edge of a sharp drop to get his family to take a picture of him and fell,” he said. French police said his death was “likely an accident” based on witness accounts. Mr Wang, who had a reported net worth of $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion), helped launch HNA in 1993. The group later expanded into finance, hotels, logistics and other businesses in a multibillion-dollar global acquisition spree. More recently, the business has been selling off some assets as Chinese regulators tighten lending controls and press companies to rein in debt. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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The chairman and co-founder of one of China’s largest conglomerates, HNA, has died from an accidental fall while travelling in France, according to the company. HNA said on Wednesday that Wang Jian, 57, had fallen and died from his injuries on Tuesday in Provence. Lietenant-colonel Hubert Meriaux of the Vaucluse gendarmerie force told Reuters Wang had fallen off 15 metres when he slipped off of a ledge. “He stood on the edge of a sharp drop to get his family to take a picture of him and fell,” Meriaux said. Police said they were not treating his death as suspicious. HNA, the owner of Hainan Airlines, once symbolised the appetite of Chinese companies for assets outside of China. However, after a $50bn (£37.9bn) global buying spree of hotels, real estate, financial services and other investments, HNA is now one of the country’s most indebted companies. It is also part of a group of “grey rhinos” – companies whose risks are large and obvious but go unnoticed until it is too late – that regulators in China have begun to see as potential threats to the Chinese economy. Guardian business email sign-up Under pressure to deleverage, HNA has been divesting assets, including real estate as well as stakes in Deutsche Bank and Hilton Worldwide Holdings. There are signs it is still struggling. A deal in which HNA would purchase an Australian logistics company for $207m fell through this week over “liquidity problems” at HNA. Last year, regulators in New Zealand blocked HNA from purchasing a car loan company out of concern over the company’s financial stability. On Wednesday, HNA turned its website grey. “We mourn the loss of an exceptionally gifted leader and role model, whose vision and values will continue to be a beacon for all who had the good fortune to know him, as well as for the many others whose lives he touched through his work and philanthropy,” the company said in a statement.