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Bill Russo
Founder & CEO at Automobility Limited, Automotive Committee Chair of AmCham Shanghai- Keynote: The Status of China’s Auto Industry in 2024
- Fireside Chat: Competing in the Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICV) Era
- Fireside Chat: Coping with the Challenges in The New Game
Bill Russo is the Shanghai-based founder and CEO of Automobility Limited, a strategy and investment advisory firm helping its clients to create the future of mobility. His over 35 years of experience include 15 years as an automotive executive in China and Asia and nearly 12 years in the electronics and information technology industries. He has worked as an advisor and consultant for numerous multinational and local Chinese firms in the formulation and implementation of their global market and product strategies. Bill is also currently serving as the chair of the Automotive Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. In his current role, Bill advises startups, corporations, and investors on how to maximize their participation in China’s Automobility Revolution. Bill was previously the regional head of Chrysler in North East Asia.
Scott Kennedy
Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSISScott Kennedy is senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A leading authority on Chinese economic policy, Kennedy has been traveling to China for over 30 years. His specific areas of expertise include industrial policy, technology innovation, business lobbying, U.S.-China commercial relations, and global governance. He is the editor of China’s Uneven High-Tech Drive: Implications for the United States (CSIS, February 2020) and (with Jude Blanchette) Chinese State Capitalism: Diagnosis and Prognosis (CSIS, October 2021) and the author of The State and the State of the Art on Philanthropy in China (Voluntas, August 2019), China’s Risky Drive into New-Energy Vehicles (CSIS, November 2018), The Fat Tech Dragon: Benchmarking China’s Innovation Drive (CSIS, August 2017), and The Business of Lobbying in China (Harvard University Press, 2005). He has edited three books, including Global Governance and China: The Dragon’s Learning Curve (Routledge, 2018). His articles have appeared in a wide array of policy, popular, and academic venues, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and China Quarterly. He is currently finishing a report, Beyond Decoupling: Maintaining America’s Hi-Tech Advantages over China (CSIS, forthcoming Spring 2022). From 2000 to 2014, Kennedy was a professor at Indiana University (IU), where he established the Research Center for Chinese Politics & Business and was the founding academic director of IU’s China Office. Kennedy received his PhD in political science from George Washington University, his MA in China studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and his BA from the University of Virginia.
Zhen Wu
President at Magna ChinaOn May 31, 2023, Zhen Wu was appointed as the President of Magna’s China operations, with overall responsibility for strategy development and execution in China. Zhen joined Magna in 2010. Shortly afterwards, she was promoted as Vice President of Legal Affairs Asia. She was promoted as Head of Magna China in 2021. With a keen understanding of technology iteration and business evolution, Zhen has been driving and strengthening collaboration and synergy across Magna's groups and divisions to introduce innovative products and business models for the Chinese market and consumer needs.
Magna is one of the world’s largest suppliers in the automotive space. It is a mobility technology company built to innovate, with a global, entrepreneurial-minded team of over 174,000 employees across 351 manufacturing operations and 103 product development, engineering and sales centres spanning 30 countries.
Tyson Becker
Vice President, China Software and Services at General MotorsTyson Becker was appointed as vice president to lead SAIC-GM’s newly established software and digital business organization in August 2023. In this new role, he leads a local team to design, develop, and operate software solutions and services aimed at creating a best-in-class intelligent connected and digital experience for Chinese customers.
In his tenure with General Motors, Tyson has held numerous roles developing strategies to drive GM’s connected vehicle ventures forward around the world. Tyson’s earlier posts include Director, Digital Business, GM China, Director, Connectivity, GM Premium Import (Chief Digital Officer, The Durant Guild), general manager of Shanghai OnStar, and deputy executive director of the SAIC-GM Connected Vehicle Line.
Previously, he worked on the Electric Vehicle Task Force to help redesign GM’s approach to customer experience and managed multiple groups to design world-class products, services, and experiences for GM’s OnStar, Commercial, Aftermarket, Market Expansion, and Connectivity programs world-wide. His experience also includes managing day-to-day operations of connected service business lines and customer engagement centers.
Tyson holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University-Bloomington and received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English writing from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.
Feng Shen
Executive Vice President & Chairman of Quality Management Committee at NIOMr. Feng Shen joined NIO in 2017. Mr. Shen worked in several senior executive management roles, such as president of Polestar China and global chief technology officer at Polestar, president at Volvo Cars China R&D Company, vice president of Volvo Cars Asia-Pacific Operation, and chairman at China-Sweden Traffic Safety Research Center from 2010 to 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Shen worked as a powertrain manager, Six-Sigma Master Black Belt and technical expert at Ford Motor Company from 1999 to 2010 in the United States and China. Mr. Shen received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and mechanics and a master’s degree in applied mechanics from Fudan University in 1984 and 1987, respectively. He also received a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1996.
Sitao Xu
Chief Economist at Deloitte ChinaXu Sitao is Chief Economist of Deloitte China, spearheading Deloitte's economic and industry research. Prior to Deloitte, he was Chief Representative of China and EIU forecasting director at the Economist Group from 2004 to 2014.
Sitao worked for MMS International of Standard and Poor’s Group in Singapore as the Economist for Indonesia, Korea and Thailand in 1995. He joined Standard Chartered Bank as Regional Treasury Economist in 1996. From 2000 to 2002, he was Societe Generale’s Chief Economist for Asia. In 2003, he became the Head of Economics of ICBC (Asia).
Sitao has written for YaleGlobal Online, the Asian Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Caijing, Caixin and 21st Century Business Herald. He appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, CCTV, and other TV shows as a commentator on China. He is on the Speaker Retainer Program for the Virginia-based CFA Institute, and is often invited by leading MNCs to their board rooms, to present key issues on China.
Sitao holds a B.A. in Economics from Peking University, a M.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut, and a M.S. in Finance from Boston College. He was a visiting scholar at Hoover Institution at Stanford University in 2012. He is also a guest professor at the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University. He sat on the board of Forterra, a listed company in Singapore, Valin, a major steel companies which is partially owned by ArcelorMittal, Hisun, a technology company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a joint venture between Bank of New York Mellon and Western Securities.
Xiaozhi Liu
CEO/Founder of ASL Automotive Co., LtdDr. Xiaozhi Liu is the founder and CEO of ASL Automotive Co. Ltd.. She is serving as global NED of Autoliv and Johnson Matthey, and the former global NED of ABInbev and Fuyao Glass Group.
She was the Manager Director of Delphi China, CTO & Chief Engineer of General Motors Greater China, President & CEO of General Motors Taiwan, Director for Vehicle concept and Electronics, Control and Software Intergration of GM NA, Vice Chairman and CEO of Fuyao Glass Group, Chairman and CEO of Neotek China. Over the past 30-plus years, her work experience covers Products Engineering and Technology, Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing & Program Management, M&A, and overall P&L responsivity in China , Asia, Europe and North America.
Currently Dr. Liu is as an Independent Advisor and Lead Coach to the CEOs of over 40 global and Chinese top 500 companies.
Dr. Liu was selected as one of 1000 outstanding contributors to China automobile industry in the 30 years of reform and opening-up in 2009. She is the Executive Vice Chairman of the Global Automobile Elite Organization and the Executive Vice Chairman of the US China Automobile Exchange Association, Honored Director of China German Automotive Engineers Association and Vice Chairman of China Automotive Talents Association.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering of XJTU, a master's degree in Electronic Engineering and a doctor's degree in Chemical Engineering from FAU in Erlangen Germany.
Yu Zhang
Managing Director of AutoForesightYu Zhang is the founder of AutoForesight. He has 20 years China automotive industry and market research experience.
Prior to AutoForesight, Mr. Zhang was the Managing Director of a Detroit based global auto industry forecasting firm (CSM Worldwide) for 7 years, in charge of company operation, Greater China light vehicle forecasting, OEM strategy research & consulting. He was also the Director of Automotive Consulting business in Asia Pacific area for the combined operations of IHS/CSM in 2010.
Prior to joining the Detroit forecasting firm, he has worked as research chief for Automotive Resources Asia, Ltd. in Beijing for 5 years, where he led in-depth market studies for major OEMs, and personally interviewed more than 500 dealer sales managers/general managers, local auto experts across over 20 provinces.
He is a well-known, recognized expert in the Asian automotive industry. He is widely quoted in national and international publications. He is a long-term columnist of industry magazine –China Automotive Review and often presents at key forums.
He holds a B.A. in economics. Before entering the automotive research field, he has five years′ market research experiences in other industries.
Sean Sun
Senior Vice President, Rubber Reinforcement at Bekaert Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Sean Sun is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in industrial automation, robotics, and logistics. In 2024, he joined Bekaert Group as the Senior Vice President Rubber Reinforcement NAS, where he continues to lead with strategic vision and a focus on innovation.
Sean has over 10 years of general management and P&L experience in European multinational corporations, complemented by 15 years in functional leadership roles in Sales & Marketing, Portfolio, and Operations. Prior to his current role, Sun served as the CEO for China at KION Dematic, a global leader in intralogistics automation.
From 2016 to 2021, he held dual roles at ABB Motions & Robotics. At Schneider Electric Energy Business, he served as General Manager, Marketing Director, and Industrial Strategy Director from 2011 to 2016. At Alstom (Areva), he was the General Manager & Site Director, and Industrial Director from 2006 to 2011. His earlier career at Electrolux Zanussi spanned from 1998 to 2006, where he held roles such as Operation Director & Vice General Manager and Supply Chain Director.
Sun holds a B.S. in Industrial Automation from Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, and an MBA from École Nationale Des Ponts Paris Tech, Paris.
Frank Liu
Senior Director, Head of Strategic Development at Dun & Bradstreet International Consultant (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Frank Liu is the Head of Strategic Development for Dun & Bradstreet in China Mainland and HKSAR market. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated in supporting the global business expansion of Chinese enterprises, with profound insights into the application of data and data-driven business decisions in cross-border finance, infrastructure investment, international supply chain finance, and commodities trading. He has successfully assisted numerous top Chinese Fortune 500 companies in achieving growth across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and Europe regions.
Bruno Lambert
Co-Founder & CEO of B–ONBruno Lambert is the CEO and co-founder of B–ON, the e-mobility solutions provider for commercial fleets. Founded in September 2020, B–ON announced a joint venture with leading global automaker Chery in April 2024 alongside the launch of its all-electric Pelkan delivery vehicle.
Prior to founding B–ON, Bruno served as Global President of automaker Borgward Automotive, CEO of Chinese electric vehicle company ICONIQ Motors, and Asia President for global manufacturing powerhouse Magna Steyr.
He holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the leading French University École Centrale de Nantes and an MBA from the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Simon Yang
President at Aptiv China and Asia PacificDr. Yang is the President of China and Asia Pacific of Aptiv. He is directly responsible for all business unit operations in China and Asia Pacific, works alongside the senior executive team globally on cross-regional initiatives, and leads the stewardship of Aptiv’s relationships with government and senior customer contacts.
Aptiv started operations in China since 1993, and has established 21 manufacturing facilities and 7 technical centers across China, with nearly 40,000 employees. Annual sales revenue in China exceeded US$4 billion in 2023.
Dr. Yang started his career with General Motors in Warren, Ohio in 1995 and relocated to China in 2003 to start-up connection systems operations in Asia. In 2008, he was appointed Managing Director for Delphi Connection Systems in Asia, driving substantial business growth from 2004 to 2021 and playing a key role in multiple acquisitions with highly successful integration. In 2014, Simon was appointed Delphi China President, directing the overall business in China. In December 2017, with the successful completion of Powertrain Division spin-off, Delphi officially became Aptiv. Simon became the president of Aptiv Asia Pacific in January 2018, ensuring the development and implementation of business strategies, sourcing strategies, customer value propositions and product solutions can meet the unique customer needs and speed of the local market.
Mr. Yang earned his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Master of Material Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University in China. He received his Master and Ph.D. of Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Simon also completed the Senior Executive Program of Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. He has published 11 research papers in several USA and European science and technology journals.
Sng Yih
President, China at AutolivSng Yih is the China division president and member of the global executive management team for Autoliv, the world leading Automotive Safety Systems supplier. 25 years experience in the automotive industry, Sng Yih spent the last 18 years in China, initially in Beijing and for the last 11 years, in Shanghai. He had previously led the Clean Air business for Tenneco and the E-Systems business for Lear Corp in Asia Pacific. Sng Yih and his team in Autoliv is focus on China solutions for China customers, with a strong focus on speed, quality and innovation.