Shanghai, China
China market development and subsidiary management professional with 15+ years of experience serving as the bridge between European (German) headquarters and the Chinese market. Built a German wine trading company's China subsidiary from the ground up — from legal setup and hiring to sales systems and brand building — and ran it independently for a decade while maintaining trusted, transparent communication with the German parent company. Most recently expanded into the automotive sector, leading multi-region marketing and business development across Singapore, China, Korea, Indonesia, and Zambia — including building China's supplier network from scratch and launching social media operations in Africa that achieved transaction conversions within the first month. Strong cross-cultural fluency, hands-on operational capability, and a track record of growing revenue in new or underdeveloped markets.
Lead market entry and business development for a multi-country automotive trading business, designing go-to-market strategy, dealer networks, and supplier sourcing across Singapore, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Source, evaluate, and onboard OEM/aftermarket manufacturing partners across China, conducting on-site factory assessments and building a reliable supplier network for export markets. Manage end-to-end factory operations, including quality control, delivery timelines, after-sales terms, payment arrangements, and logistics coordination, while cultivating long-term, mutually beneficial supplier relationships. Build scalable marketing and sales operating systems (SOPs, lead tracking, conversion processes) to support fast-growing, newly-entered markets.
Took full ownership of the China subsidiary of a German family business, serving as the sole point of contact with German headquarters and ensuring transparent, regular reporting that maintained long-term trust over nearly a decade. Managed full operational and financial responsibility for the entity, including budgeting, cost control, customs clearance, supplier relationships, and inventory, while keeping the business profitable and compliant. Led the EU Ciao Brandy project end-to-end, from planning through execution and reporting, coordinating directly with European partners. Built and led a cross-functional local team, translating German business standards into practices that worked for the Chinese market. Maintained and grew relationships with key clients and external agents, sustaining steady revenue growth in a market unfamiliar to the German parent company.
Built the company and brand from zero in China for a German family-owned winery: company registration, hiring and training the first team, and establishing internal rules, pricing strategy, and management systems from scratch. Acted as the cultural and language bridge between German winery owners and the Chinese market, translating wine and business information and providing on-site interpretation during German winery visits and events. Planned and ran 50+ marketing events per year (exhibitions, wine tastings, winery tours) to build brand recognition and customer engagement from a standing start. Worked directly with German wineries on product selection, helping shape the brand's positioning and product range for Chinese consumers. Set up the company's digital presence (website, social media) and ran market/competitor research to guide early-stage strategy decisions.
Organized high-profile brand events for a European luxury consumer goods company in China, including the Andy Warhol Exhibition and Mercedes-Benz Night, building visibility in a new market. Designed and executed promotional strategies that increased sales by 30% within six months. Oversaw retail operations and trained local staff and distributors to align with the parent company's brand standards.