(Yicai) April 19 -- Meituan has combined some of its key local life service businesses into a Core Local Businesses segment in the Chinese on-demand services giant’s fourth major organizational reshuffle this year as it aims to streamline the firm’s operations to better cope with intense competition.

The home delivery section, the in-store business group, Meituan platforms and the basic research and development department have been amalgamated into the Core Local Businesses division, Chief Executive Officer Wang Xing said in an internal email yesterday. The home delivery and in-store business groups will be disbanded while their subordinate departments will be placed directly under the new division.

Senior Vice President Wang Puzhong, the youngest member of the company’s top decision-making committee, the S-team, has been appointed chief executive officer of the new division, Wang Xing said. 40-year-old Wang Puzhong joined Meituan in 2015, and over the years has served as the senior product director of the delivery sector as well as the head of the takeout department.

This is Meituan’s fourth organizational reshuffle since February. The rejigging is aimed at getting the company’s business segments to work more closely together, rather than independently, Wang Xing said. As part of the shake-up, Meituan has promoted many young managers who have grown up with the company to the head of different business segments.

These adjustments and personnel changes are necessary to cope with the challenges brought about by competitors such as TikTok’s Chinese version Douyin, Wang Xing said at the earnings call last month.

Business teams can work more closely after the organizational overhaul, which will help merchants become more efficient, enable them to better understand consumer demand, improve the user experience and enhance the company’s operational efficiency, Wang Xing said.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor