Julian Blissett is appointed General Motors Executive Vice President and President of GM China, effective April 2020. Based in Shanghai, he oversees all of GM’s operations in China.

In his previous position of Senior Vice President, International Operations–leading GM’s global operations outside of the Americas and China – Blissett streamlined operations and refined GM’s global go-to-market strategies for GM’s International Operations, strengthening the foundation to turn around financial performance and sustain a customer-focused organization.

Prior to Blissett’s role in GMI, he was Executive Vice President of SAIC General Motors (SAIC-GM), GM’s flagship joint venture in China, for five years since May 2014. SAIC-GM played a leading role in strengthening GM’s foothold and dealer networks as well as deploying the company’s diversified electrification solutions in China.

A native of the United Kingdoms, Blissett began his career with GM in 1996, as Central Engineering manager for Opel Polska. Since then, he has held various management positions of increasing responsibilities in the U.K., China and GM International Operations markets.

In 2006, Blissett started his first tenure at SAIC-GM, as deputy executive director of Manufacturing. In March 2010, he was appointed GMIO executive director of Manufacturing Engineering.

Blissett became vice president of New Business Development and Alliances for GM International Operations in December 2011. Based in Shanghai, he supervised the growth of GM’s alliances and other partnerships across the region while exploring new business opportunities.

Prior to joining GM, Blissett worked for Nissan Motor Manufacturing U.K. Ltd. for eight years in manufacturing engineering and production leadership in the U.K. and Japan.

Blissett holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and business studies from Sheffield Hallam University in the U.K.

In 2019, Blissett received the Magnolia Gold Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government for his contributions to the economic and social development of Shanghai.

Since joining FedEx in 1985, Eddy has taken on diverse roles across the mid-Pacific region including Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. Whilst managing the dynamic China market, Eddy supports FedEx China’s role in global economic development, acting as consultant to trade organizations and acting professor in universities. Raised in Hong Kong, Eddy is now based in Shanghai.

James Heller is a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service and Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai.  His previous assignment was Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department. In Washington, Mr. Heller has also served in the Office of Taiwan Coordination, Office of Korean Affairs, the State Department’s 24/7 Operations Center, the Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Affairs, and the Office of Multilateral Trade Affairs.  Overseas, Mr. Heller has served twice at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as well at the U.S. Embassies in Seoul and Kyiv and with Regional Reconstruction Team Erbil in Iraq.

Mr. Heller has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Michigan and is a Hopkins-Nanjing Center graduate. His wife Lisa is also a U.S. Senior Foreign Service Officer. They have an adult daughter and son.

Kent is a Partner in Control Risks, Greater China and North Asia. He is responsible for Control Risks’ practices across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, the Koreas and Mongolia. He has worked in Asia since the early 1980s.

Kent has consulted with multi-national and Asian corporations on a range of risk and strategy issues; such as M&A and organic growth strategy, crisis management and operational business controls, and strategic and organizational development programs. Kent has particular expertise in the Asia-Pacific healthcare, food and beverage, and consumer products sectors .


Examples of Kent’s work include:
Strategically reorganised a company in China, helping it focus on lower-risk/higher return market segments and adjusting its commercial practices to be more effective and sustainable.
Led the Asia franchising strategy for a global fast food company, including identifying potential partners, completing commercial and integrity due diligence and negotiating final deals.
Worked with an Asia-Pacific CEO to make a strategic acquisition of a competitor by launching a commercial due diligence programme to verify market penetration and quality of earnings claims.
Directed crisis management programs for high-profile corruption and food safety cases in Asia.

Formerly, Kent was responsible for the Compliance, Forensics and Intelligence practice throughout Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining Control Risks, Kent was general manager and co-owner of Technomic Asia, a market strategy consulting firm.

Kent has worked as a journalist and is a frequent contributor to Asia-based media outlets. The co-author of The China Ready Company (2006, China Pathways) he writes and produces The Talking Monkey, a blog and podcast on living as a foreigner in China.

Kent has a bachelor’s in English and a master’s in East Asian studies from the University of Minnesota. He also completed graduate studies in journalism and mass communication at the China Times Centre for Mass Media and Social Studies.