Deloitte unveils China's 2026 Best Managed Companies

Deloitte announced the 80 winners of its 8th China Best Managed Companies (BMC) program at a ceremony in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, on July 17. The cohort, which includes 13 first-time honorees, spans diverse sectors—from consumer retail and industrial manufacturing to TMT, life sciences, healthcare, energy, real estate, education, and insurance.

The 2026 winners delivered exceptional financial performance in 2025, with combined revenue of approximately 4.4 trillion yuan. On average, they have been in business for 29 years, generating 55.1 billion yuan in revenue and 3.8 billion yuan in net profit, outperforming the broader A-share listed companies. Their average R&D intensity reached about 3%, reflecting a strong commitment to innovation as artificial intelligence reshapes industrial landscapes. These firms have also built dual technological and managerial capabilities to support global operations.

Selection followed a rigorous six month process involving closed nominations, executive interviews, and expert research, based on Deloitte's BMC Global Framework, which evaluates strategy, capabilities, commitment, and financial strength. The winners include both returning champions and new entrants, underscoring the program's role in recognizing sustained excellence.

"Chinese enterprises have evolved from proving their worth to setting global benchmarks," Jiang Ying, Chair of Deloitte China and head of the BMC judging committee, reflected on the program's eight year journey at the awards ceremony. She stressed the importance of "human centered leadership," driven by what she called the "3X Forces"—empathy, innovation, and prosperity—and praised Xiong'an based companies for transcending boundaries and creating shared value through coopetition.

Professor Frederik Anseel, dean of HKUST Business School, observed that the fusion of management excellence and business education is redefining growth, and that the winners offer invaluable case studies for academic research. Liu Xiao, founding publisher of Harvard Business Review China, noted that 2026 marks the inaugural year of the 15th Five Year Plan (2026-2030), and that these exemplary firms demonstrate how superior management fosters new quality productive forces—providing a replicable blueprint for industrial upgrading.

Xu Ke, Deloitte China private managing partner, highlighted that over half of BMC firms have achieved globalized operations within three years. Yet the real challenge, he said, lies in "going deep"—navigating localized strategies, digital transformation, and compliance risks. He added that 65% of winners rank AI as their top investment priority, making it a strategic cornerstone, while organizational agility and talent shortages—particularly in human centered leadership—remain critical areas to address.

Zhao Jian, lead partner of the BMC Program, emphasized that BMC is more than an award—it is a platform for showcasing achievements. Deloitte, he affirmed, will continue to support winners in driving innovation, modernizing management, and expanding their global footprint.

The ceremony and gala dinner brought together over a hundred entrepreneurs and executives in Xiong'an. Deloitte China reiterated its commitment to partnering with cross sector organizations to reshape development models and scale international operations, jointly authoring a "China Practice" for the world.