Mar. 16 (NBD) -- Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group ("Wanda") went through a series of personnel changes recently. 

Jiang Defu, general manager of Wanda Media Co., Ltd. ("Wanda Media") and Que Wenxiong, general manager of Wuzhou Film Distribution ("Wuzhou Film"), both have quitted office. Lincoln Zhang, chairman of the board of directors of U.S. movie theater chain AMC, has also resigned from the board. 

Wanda Media Group is Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin's flagship film production company, while Wuzhou Film is the group's local film distribution arm.

It is said that the changes were because the three units didn't fulfill the previously set targets for 2017. 

When summing up the work for last year, Wanda Chairman said the group experienced hardships in 2017. Its film divisions, including overseas ones, overfulfilled its net profits target by 14 percent in the year, but there was a gap of 1.5 percent with the revenue target. Of them, domestic film units achieved their projected goals. 

Theater chain AMC was taken over by Wanda in 2012, part of the Chinese conglomerate's efforts to become the world's largest theater operator and grab a 20 percent share of the global film market by 2020. 

After getting listed in the U.S. in 2013, AMC has acquired London-based Odeon & UCI Cinema Group, Stockholm-based Nordic Cinema, and Columbus, Georgia-based Carmike Cinemas in succession, which has won high praise from Wang Jianlin.

Under the operations of Wanda, the U.S. theater chain turned losses into gain, reporting positive yearly profits between 2013 and 2016.  

However, the extravagant purchases place great pressure on AMC. According to the chain's fiscal report for the fourth quarter of this year, its unaudited net loss for fiscal 2017 hit up to 487 million U.S. dollars even though the revenue soared by nearly 60 percent. AMC ascribed the loss to the reduction of average ticket fares, increased interest rate and rent, and soaring transaction and management fees arisen from the above-mentioned three deals. 

AMC said Lincoln Zhang resigned from the board so he can take on new responsibilities at Wanda. The theater company said its board will move "shortly" to select a new chairman from within its ranks. Zeng Maojun, president of Wanda Film Holding Co., remains on AMC's board.

Jiang Defu confirmed his resignation to NBD over the phone Thursday. With regard to the reasons of leaving, he explained that he resigned due to personal reasons. He is too tired and wants to take some rest, he added. 

Regarding the two other changes, Jiang declined to comment. 

A senior filmmaker told NBD that Wanda Media under Jiang's leadership turned in a lackluster performance in 2017, but the film "Detective Chinatown Vol.2" broadcast during the 2018 Spring Festival holiday delivered strong results in box office. 

Unlike Jiang's deep root in the film industry, Que Wenxiong had no ties with films before joining Wanda Film as executive vice president in January 2016. He transferred to Wuzhou Film in March 2017. His departure this time might be a signal of his permanent retreat from Wanda's system. 

NBD tried to reach Que on Thursday, but calls weren't answered.  

Email: lansuying@nbd.com.cn