Wang Jian, co-founder and chairman of Chinese conglomerate HNA, died Tuesday after falling off a wall in France while having his photograph taken.

Why it matters: Beyond the obvious human tragedy, Jian was architect of HNA's massive global expansion — when it invested more than $40 billion to buy big stakes in companies like Hilton. But he's also been helping to lead HNA's great unwind, as the firm had overextended itself, and his death could make that process more difficult.