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Craig Allen
Senior Counselor at The Cohen GroupAmbassador Craig Allen joined The Cohen Group in 2025 after serving as the President of the US-China Business Council (USCBC) from 2018 to 2024, a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing over 200 American companies doing business in China. Prior to his leadership at USCBC, Ambassador Allen was the United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam from December 19, 2014, to July 2018.
Before his ambassadorial role, Ambassador Allen had a long and distinguished career in US public service, primarily within the Department of Commerce. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the Department’s International Trade Administration and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for China. His prior overseas assignments include serving as the Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Beijing, where he held the Minister Counselor rank of the Senior Foreign Service. He also served as Senior Commercial Officer in South Africa and as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Tokyo.
Earlier in his career, Ambassador Allen worked at the National Center for APEC in Seattle, contributing to APEC Summits in Brunei, China, and Mexico. He held commercial attaché positions at the U.S. Embassies in Beijing and Tokyo and at the American Institute in Taiwan, where he was Director of the American Trade Center in Taipei. He began his government career in 1985 as a Presidential Management Intern at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, later serving as an international economist in its China Office.
Ambassador Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Asian Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Sam Wu
Vice President, Ford Motor Company & President and CEO of Ford China and International Markets GroupSam Wu is appointed as the President and CEO of Ford China on March 1,2023. He reports directly to Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, and has been elected as a company officer.
Sam joined Ford Motor Company in 2022, as the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Ford China. In these roles, he managed engineering, manufacturing, quality and purchasing for Ford China and oversees the company’s in-country commercial vehicle division.
Sam joined Ford China after holding leadership roles in Asia for several major global companies across a range of industries, including President, Asia Pacific, and a member of the global executive committee for Whirlpool Corp; President and CEO of Osram’s Asia-Pacific business; Vice President and Regional General Manager for Honeywell Process Solutions in Greater China. Sam’s career also includes a tenure with General Electric in senior level positions.
Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in Thermal Energy Engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Information Management, respectively, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University.
Ian Shih
President of Rockwell Automation ChinaIan Shih has served as President of Rockwell Automation China since July 2018, responsible for the overall business in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. He is the first Chinese president of Rockwell Automation China.
Ian Shih joined Rockwell Automation in 2008 and has accumulated rich cross-regional and cross-cultural management experience in China, North America, South America and Europe. After taking office as the president of China, Ian Shih led the team to actively promote the implementation of intelligent manufacturing in China and support the transformation and upgrading of China's industries.
Ian Shih holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in manufacturing business management from Pennsylvania State University. In addition, Ian Shih was also selected as the country advisor of Expert Group of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Industry Alliance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) and Vice President of Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Association, Vice President of Shanghai Overseas Economic and Technological Promotion Association.
Samantha Zhu
Chairperson and Market Unit Lead, Accenture Greater China at Accenture (China) Co., Ltd.Samantha Zhu is Accenture’s Senior Managing Director, Chairperson and Market Unit Lead for Greater China, responsible for the company’s strategy, growth, and operations in the region. She leads a team of around 14,000 professionals that offer services across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song to a wide variety of multinational and Chinese clients across industries.
Since she joined Accenture in 1997, Samantha has taken various leadership roles in Accenture Greater China, including Client Group Lead of Communications, Media & Technology, Operations Service Group, Human Capital and Diversity Lead and the Corporate Citizenship Council Lead. Under her leadership, Accenture Greater China was certified as Great Place To Work (GPTW) for three years in a row since 2022.
She helps CEOs and board members of local and multinational companies in China to reinvent their
operations in a changing business landscape to accelerate growth and innovation, build resilience and achieve 360-degree value.
Samantha has long been an advocate for responsible business and social impact, driving initiatives in women leadership, inclusion and diversity, and sustainability. She has been recognized as one of the most powerful women by Fortune China magazine in 2022 and 2023 and Forbes China’s 100 Power Businesswomen for three years as well. She sponsors Accenture’s engagement with World Economic Forum on China’s energy transition and responsible AI in industries.
Samantha holds Bachelor of Arts from Fudan University. She is based in Shanghai
Aditi Rasquinha
CEO, Greater China of DHL Global ForwardingAditi is a distinguished leader known for her expertise in business turnarounds, cultural transformations, and organizational redesigns. As the Chief Executive Officer of DHL Global Forwarding in Greater China, she drives overall performance and strategic direction, overseeing operations for over 2,000 employees across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Her extensive skills in P&L management and product management empower her to optimize financial performance and implement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Aditi’s customer-centric approach ensures the needs of DHL Global Forwarding’s diverse clientele are prioritized.
Having lived and worked in ten countries, she brings a unique global perspective to her leadership. Based in Shanghai, China, Aditi adeptly navigates the complexities of the Greater China market, leveraging her international experience to foster innovation and drive results, positioning DHL Global Forwarding as a leader in the logistics industry.
Eric Zheng
President of The American Chamber of Commerce in ShanghaiEric Zheng became the President of The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai in 2022. He has been involved in the Chamber for over 15 years as a member, committee leader, Board member, Board treasurer, Board secretary, and Board vice chair, and Board chair (2018 and 2019).
Eric brings a unique combination of private and public sector experiences to the presidency. He worked in management consulting with PwC in the U.S. and later served for the U.S. Department of Commerce as the principal commercial officer at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. Eric had a long career with AIG in Greater China and held a series of positions that culminated in his service as CEO of AIG China. He then chaired the board of Heng An Standard Life Insurance Company.
In volunteer roles, Eric serves as the Greater China regional chair of the Committee of 100 and as a board director of Shanghai Make-A-Wish Charity Foundation. The Shanghai municipal government has granted Eric its Magnolia Gold Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the city. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Fudan University and an MBA from Georgetown University.
Xiangrong Yu
Chief China Economist, Managing Director of CitiXiangrong Yu is Citi’s Chief China Economist, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Citi in 2017, he was a China economist at China International Capital Corporation (CICC) for three years, advising institutional investors. Xiangrong’s earlier roles include economist positions at Hong Kong Monetary Authority and International Monetary Fund.
Xiangrong is a consistently top-ranked China economist. He was ranked No. 1 for Asia (ex-Japan) Economics research in the Institutional Investor (II) Global Fixed-Income Survey in 2023 and 2022. He was No. 2 for Economics research in the II All-Asia Survey in 2023, No. 3 in 2022 and 2021, and runner-up (ranked No. 4) in 2020 and 2019. He was part of the economics team top-ranked in the II All-China Survey in 2016 and 2015. Xiangrong was awarded Best Renminbi Bonds Research Individual by The Asset magazine in 2023.
Xiangrong holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his M.A. and B.A., both in economics, from Peking University. Xiangrong has been frequently cited by international and Chinese media, and his academic work has appeared in leading journals.
Ke Zhao
Managing Director of China International Capital Corporation Ltd.Ms. Ke Zhao joined China International Capital Corporation (CICC) in 2007 and is a Managing Director. She serves as Head of Multinational Corporations (MNC) and concurrently as Head of CICC Investment Banking Americas.
Ms. Zhao has extensive experience across the United States, Mainland China and Hong Kong. She has led and participated in a broad range of landmark cross-border capital markets, M&A and strategic transactions, working closely with multinational corporates and leading institutions on China-related and cross-border initiatives. Previously, Ms. Zhao was responsible for CICC’s international affairs and government relations.
Notable transactions of Ms. Zhao include Saudi Aramco’s secondary public offering of common stock, ADNOC’s secondary sale of existing shares, the Hong Kong IPOs of Budweiser APAC and Yum China, the A-share IPO of Foxconn, Sanofi’s sale of its Consumer Healthcare business, Atlas Copco's major cross-border M&A transaction, Tianjin Tianhai’s acquisition of NYSE-listed Ingram Micro, the Panda bond issuance by New Development Bank, the private placement of Anhui Gujing Distillery, the Convertible bond issuance by Sinopec, Sinotruk’s capital market-related transactions, China Construction Bank’s listing, and Want Want-CICC Industrial Win-Win Fund, among others.
Ms. Zhao has long-term engagement in discussions and practical research on cross-border capital flows, industrial policy and macro strategy involving China–US, China–Europe and Middle East regions, and her focus areas include China’s cross-border development strategy, energy transition, ESG and sustainable finance, geopolitics and global governance. She maintains ongoing dialogue with governments, corporates and international institutions at the intersection of capital, industry and policy, drawing on frontline investment banking and international public affairs experience
Ms. Zhao has served as Young Leaders Forum Fellow of the National Committee on US-China Relations (NCUSCR) since 2014, Capstone Project Mentor at NYU Stern Shanghai since 2021, Future Leaders Group (FLG) Member at Institute of International Finance (IIF), and Senior Mentor for Global Youth Career Sustainable Development at United Nations Global Leadership & ESG Development Center (UNGLEP).
Anke Schrader
Director, China of Economist Intelligence Corporate NetworkAnke Schrader is the China Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network. Utilising over two decades of living and working in China, Anke works closely with network members to help inform their business strategies through political, economic, and operational insight and to connect them with their senior leadership peers.
Anke is also a recognised sustainability expert. She is the author of numerous publications on ESG, citizenship, and sustainable development issues in China and served six years as Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China’s Business Sustainability Committee.
Before joining The Economist Group, Anke was the Asia Research Director at The Conference Board, where she led strategic planning and execution of thought leadership research for China and the Asia region, leading a team of economists and researchers covering macroeconomics, human capital, and sustainability research. She also previously worked as a strategy consultant at PwC in Beijing advising multinational clients on macroeconomic, policy, market entry strategy, and operational issues.
Anke has led multi-year China research partnerships with Cornell University and Indiana University (funded by the Henry Luce Foundation and the Ford Foundation), was a guest lecturer at Cornell’s Employment and Disability Institute, and a mentor for the Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University.
Anke received scholarships for Chinese language studies at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing and Shanghai Jiaotong University’s international MBA program. She holds an M.A. in politics and management from University of Konstanz.
Jarrod Ward
Chief Commercial Officer, Regional at Yusen Logistics (China) Co., LtdAn experienced industry professional with over 22 years working in the logistics and supply chain solution industry. Jarrod is currently the Chief Business Development Officer for East Asia at Yusen Logistics, a member of the NYK Group. He is also responsible for their Supply Chain Solutions division in East Asia.
Jarrod has held senior leadership positions in Japan, Singapore, and the USA, including over 16 years at NYK Line container division.
Jarrod received his MBA in Supply Chain Logistics from Rutgers University in 2007.
Jarrod graduated from Washington & Jefferson college, and has his roots in western Pennsylvania.
Jeongmin Seong
Partner at McKinsey Global Institute (MGI)Jeongmin Seong is a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey & Company’s business and economics research arm. He leads MGI research teams in China, working on global as well as China-focused themes. Jeongmin’s recent research has focused on technology, innovation and China’s economic transition. He has co-authored several MGI reports and discussion papers.
Prior to joining MGI, Jeongmin worked with companies around the world focusing on consumer facing industries including consumer electronics, retail, and automotive as an associate partner at McKinsey’s Greater China office. Jeongmin also led McKinsey’s emerging market growth service line.
Prior to joining McKinsey Shanghai office, Jeongmin worked as a product marketing manager at Dell China. Jeongmin is a graduate of Harvard Business School where he received his MBA degree.
Erik Walenza
CEO of Asia Growth PartnersErik Walenza is the CEO of IoT ONE Inc., the Chair of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) Smart Factory Task Group (SFTG), and the Shanghai Director of Startup Grind. IoT ONE is a leading source of information and insight regarding Industrial Internet of Things vendors and solutions. Companies work with IoT ONE to develop their customer bases, partner ecosystems, and innovation strategies. As Chair of the IIC SFTG, Erik works with IIC members to reduce the risk for early adopters of Industrial IoT technologies in manufacturing. Through Startup Grind Erik supports the development of Shanghai's innovation ecosystem.
Selena Chu
VP, APAC CIO & Global Commercial Service at DowSelena Chu serves as the Chief Information Officer for Asia Pacific at Dow, where she leads the strategic direction and execution of digital transformation across the region. Her portfolio spans Enterprise Services, Data & Analytics, Digital Innovation, and Cybersecurity, with a strong focus on enabling business agility, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth through technology.
In her global role, Selena leads Dow’s Commercial Services organization, driving the development of integrated digital platforms that enhance the end-to-end customer journey. Her team leverages AI, automation, and data intelligence to elevate customer engagement, streamline commercial and marketing operations, and accelerate digital commerce—delivering value through personalized B2B experiences and intelligent process automation.
Selena has over 20 years of experience in both consulting and industry, having held leadership roles in R&D operations, business and innovation strategy, technology information services, regional country leadership, and IT/digital transformation. Prior to joining Dow in 2008, she worked at General Electric (GE) and KPMG Consulting, including international assignments in the United States.
Selena was listed as one of the "Top 50 Women in Tech 2021" by Forbes China and named a "Top 50 Future MPW" for both 2021 and 2022 by Fortune China.
Steven Gao
Co-Founder and CEO of IndustrialMind.aiAs a seasoned digital transformation leader, Steven has empowered global organizations and hundreds of professionals to harness the power of cutting-edge technology. From crafting visionary strategies to implementing game-changing solutions, he bridges the gap between traditional manufacturing and the digital frontier.
Prior to his current position, Steven served as the Digital Transformation Leader at Tesla Manufacturing, driving innovation in the world’s leading automotive factory.
Eric Chen
Solutions Architect at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence InternationalEric Chen is a Solutions Architect at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International. Eric specializes in empowering multinational corporations (MNCs) to develop cloud strategies and solution architectures that support market entry, localization, and scalable operations in China. With expertise in enterprise cloud adoption, security and compliance, and AI enablement. Eric works with global clients to modernize digital foundations and accelerate the delivery of production-grade AI solutions that drive sustainable growth in the China market.
Rachel Rapaport
Director, Communications & Publications of The American Chamber of Commerce in ShanghaiRachel is head of the Communications & Publications department. She manages the Chamber's Insight magazine and co-authors the China Business Report. She also handles media relations for the Chamber.