Bill Russo
Founder & CEO at Automobility Limited, Automotive Committee Chair of AmCham ShanghaiBill 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.
Sam Wu
Vice President of Ford Motor Company & President and CEO of Ford China & International Markets Group at Ford Motor (China), Ltd.Sam 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.
Simon Yang
President of 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.
Ilaria Mazzocco
Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)Ilaria Mazzocco is deputy director and senior fellow with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She has over a decade of experience researching industrial policy, Chinese climate policy, and the intersection between the energy transition and economic and national security. Prior to joining CSIS, she led research on Chinese climate and energy policy for Macropolo, the Paulson Institute's think tank.
She holds a PhD from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where her dissertation investigated Chinese industrial policy by focusing on electric vehicle promotion efforts and the role of local governments. She speaks Chinese and Italian.
Lola Woetzel
Senior Partner Emerita at McKinsey & Consulting Co., Inc., ShanghaiLola Woetzel is a Senior Partner Emerita as of May 15, 2024 at the McKinsey Global Institute [MGI] where she leads MGI research on productivity, urbanization, infrastructure, inequality and regional economies. As an expert on energy, sustainability, and economic master planning, Lola has advised national and local governments in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas on topics including improving the foreign investment environment, energy policy, and economic development. Based in China since 1986, she has conducted more than 60 projects for local governments throughout China to support economic development and transformation. Lola works in the private sector as well, serving clients most often on topics related to corporate strategy, operations, and organization. She has extensive experience in real estate, particularly affordable housing and commercial revitalization, and has advised on sustainable energy investment strategies among other topics.
Dr. Woetzel holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and actively participates in international forums including the World Economic Forum and the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. She is a recipient of the Silver Magnolia Award from the Shanghai City Government and of Consulting Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Consultants award. She has guest lectured at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Business, Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College, and the China-Europe International Business School since 2008. She is a member of the Board of Project Drawdown and of Delterra, and an Advisor to the Tianjin Juilliard School. She is fluent in Mandarin, Spanish and German and has written five books on China including Capitalist China: Strategies for a Revolutionized Economy; Operation China; 1 Hour China and No Ordinary Disruption.
Michael Wu
Co-President of Leapmotor Technology LtdMichael Wu serves as the Co-President of Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, a leading electric vehicle developer in China. He is responsible for Leapmotor’s strategic collaborations, investment/financing as well as capital market fund raising activities.
In 2023, Mr. Wu structured and led the execution of Leapmotor – Stellantis strategic and investment partnership and business setup for Leapmotor’s overseas expansion.
Jing Yuan
CFO at ZEEKRJing Yuan has served as ZEEKR‘s chief financial officer since April 2021. Mr. Yuan has extensive experience in investment banking and the automotive industry through advising clients engaged in the automotive industry on capital markets transactions.
Prior to joining ZEEKR, Mr. Yuan held various positions in the investing banking industry and automotive industry, and his last position was an executive director at UBS investment bank.
Mr. Yuan obtained a bachelor’s degree in international trade and economy from Xiamen University in 2006 and a master of science degree in management from Imperial College London in 2007.
Ping Chen
Managing Director, OEM Management & Business Development China of Jameel MotorsPing Chen serves as Managing Director, OEM Management & Business Development China, Jameel Motors. Ping oversees all partnership management and development with Chinese automotive partners as well as new business development and growth for Jameel Motors in the Chinese market and in the global markets with Chinese OEMs.
Prior to joining Jameel Motors, Mr. Chen held notable consultancy and management positions in various mobility sectors in China. Most recently, Ping was Associate Partner at Bain & Company China focusing on advanced manufacturing and mobility and specializing in partnerships and joint ventures, investment due diligence, and strategy. Previously, Ping has held leadership roles in leading automotive companies in China including Didi Chuxing, Autohome Inc, and BMW China.
Ping holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from Fudan University, China. He speaks Mandarin and English.
Paul Gong
Head of China Auto Research at UBSPaul Gong is head of China auto research at UBS. He has led and participated in various thematic research projects covering electric vehicle and autonomous driving, including UBS EV teardown series: Chevy Bolt (2017), Tesla Model 3 (2018), VW ID.3 (2021) and BYD Seal (2023). Paul & team has been consistently ranked in Institutional Investor Research Polling, including No.1 in II China.
Paul has 15-year experience in equity research at Nomura, Citigroup, and UBS.
He received master’s and bachelor’s degree on computational physics from HKU and studied at school of aerospace engineering at Tsinghua University.
Christian Swahn
Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Autoliv IncChristian is the Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Autoliv Inc., based in Sweden at the Autoliv Head Office.
He joined Autoliv and holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an EMBA in General Management.
Johnny Panagiotidis
Head of Client Servicing, Brand and Creative Practice at Kantar Insights, ShanghaiJohnny has over 20 years of quantitative market research experience. He commenced his career working for Reckitt Benckiser within their trade marketing team before progressing to sales management.
Johnny commenced his market research career working at Nielsen Australia joining the Retail Measurement Services team Johnny’s final role was the Head of the Customized Research team with both Quant and Qual reporting to him.
Johnny joined Kantar Sydney, Australia office in 2008 as a Senior Business Consultant specializing in brand equity and communications research.
Johnny relocated to Kantar Insights Shanghai office in May 2015 as the Head of Client Servicing where he focuses on providing Brand, Creative and Media insights to facilitate brand growth.
During his 10 plus years in China, Johnny has had extensive experience based on Auto sector servicing MNC’s including Exxon Mobile and Goodyear Tyres.
Bruno Ahrens
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Electrified Powertrain of UAES (Bosch Joint Venture)Bruno Ahrens leads the Electrified Powertrain Business Unit at United Automotive Electronic Systems (UAES), a Bosch joint venture in China. Under his leadership, UAES has grown into one of the country’s leading suppliers of e-mobility solutions, including eAxles, inverters, chargers, and converters, supporting both Chinese and global OEMs.
With over 15 years of international experience across Europe and Asia, Bruno has played a pivotal role in driving Bosch’s global electrification strategy, balancing cost competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and technology leadership. He brings a cross-cultural perspective to the challenges of globalization, localization, and innovation in the fast-changing automotive industry.
Minghan Qin
Senior Product Manager, Compute / HPC&AI Business Unit at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co., Ltd.Category and product marketing manager in HP/HPE since 2012. Overall manage China Geo P&L for mission critical, blade and HPC/AI server portfolios.