Saturday, February 10, 2007, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
During these past few years, Asia has witnessed an enormous amount of transformation in its economic and political landscape. China and India continue to post explosive rates of growth. Business opportunities abound, but many observers are questioning whether such expansion can be sustainable from a longer-term perspective. Globalization is forcing Asian businesses to adapt to an ever more competitive world, but rising protectionist sentiments in developed countries have added a new element of uncertainty to the process. Finally, political upheavals have dominated the region’s news in recent times. Their impact is yet to be fully felt, but the consequences are likely to percolate through every level of society.
Some of the questions this panel will address include:
Anthony Saich is the Daewoo Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Harvard University Asia Center. He is Faculty Chair of the Asia Programs and the China Public Policy Program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. This work includes significant training programs for national and local officials from China, including a program to help Beijing officials prepare for the Olympics. He also sits on the Executive Committees of the Fairbank Center and the University’s Asia Center. From 1994 until July 1999, he was the Representative for the China Office of the Ford Foundation. Prior to this he was the director of the Sinological Institute, Leiden University, the Netherlands. He is also a guest Professor at the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University, China. He has advised a wide range of government, private and not-for-profit organizations on work in China and elsewhere in Asia. He is a member of the Trustees of the China Medical Board of New York and International Bridges to Justice. His full biography is available here (external website).
Ann Chen is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Bain & Company and the head of the Greater China consumer products and retail practice. She joined Bain & Company in Boston in 1989, and after a stint to Paris, joined the China practice in Asia in 1994.
Ann focuses on working with companies to develop and implement strategies in China, from market entry to distribution to acquisition due diligence. In addition, she has worked with clients in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and in Southeast Asia.
In the area of consumer products, Ann has extensive experience in developing profitable growth strategies for companies operating in Asia. She has worked across a broad array of industries, including food and beverages, personal care, and household products. Her work spans market opportunity assessment, channel management, brand strategy, competitive benchmarking, distribution and M&A.
On retail, Ann has worked with some of the world’s leading retailers on issues such as China entry strategy and sourcing and supply chain optimization. Sectors covered include apparel, fast food, supermarkets and consumer appliances.
She has published articles on consumer and retail trends in both the Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal, along with local and Asian journals.
Ann Chen is a graduate from Princeton University, with an engineering degree in computer science. She also holds a MBA from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Jong Nam Oh, who finished his term as the first Korean Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2006, is currently Visiting Professor in the School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan and CEO of iGEM Consulting he has founded in Seoul, Korea. He previously served the Korean government for 30 years, mostly with the Economic Planning Board, and later the Ministry of Finance and Economy. He also worked in the Office of the President (The Blue House) as Economic Secretary during Kim, Dae-jung administration. From February 2002 through September 2004, he was Commissioner of the Korea National Statistical Office, where he wrote a book entitled 'Koreans, Your Future.' He earned his Bachelor's degree in Law at Seoul National University in Korea, and a Ph.D. in Economics and an MBA at Southern Methodist University in Texas.
Donald Tang, 42, is Chairman of Bear, Stearns, Asia and Vice Chairman, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. His distinctive vantage point as both a Chinese national and an Asian American business leader gives him uncommon insight into the emerging Chinese business and cultural climate. Mr. Tang is a frequent speaker and panelist at international conferences, sought out for his unique insight, forecasting abilities, and commitment to building bridges of understanding between all people. Donald Tang is a Member of the Advisory Board of RAND – Center for Asia Pacific Policy, and Chairman, Banking Reform Committee on China; Chairman of the Asia Society Southern California; Trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.