Current Business Environment in China

The business climate in China has seen significant changes in recent years, particularly since COVID-19. The Washington State China Relations Council, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and Committee of 100 will jointly host a panel discussion to discuss the latest business trends in China and how U.S. companies should be prepared in order to succeed in the new era. The panelists will include Eric Zheng, president of AmCham Shanghai and Greater China chair of Committee of 100; Daniel Brindle, CEO of Novartis China and governor of AmCham Shanghai; and Robert Kapp, former president of the US-China Business Council and a board director of the WSCRC. Norwell Coquillard, Executive Director of WSCRC, will serve as the moderator.

Event Time: Tuesday August 2, 2022 at 5:00-6:00pm PT

Tuesday August 2, 2022 at 8:00-9:00pm ET

Wednesday, August 3 at 8:00-9:00am China Time

REGISTER HERE

PANELISTS

Robert Kapp, President, Robert A. Kapp Associates

Dr. Kapp founded Robert A. Kapp & Associates in 2004 to provide consulting services to companies and nonprofit organizations seeking to develop successful activities with China or to engage with policy makers in the field of U.S.-China relations.

Dr. Kapp’s served, in reverse chronological order, as President of the Washington D.C.-based US-China Business Council from 1994-2004; President of the Washington Council on International Trade, 1987-1994; Founding Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council, 1979-87, and in the History Departments of Rice University and the University of Washington, 1970-1980.

Dr. Kapp served for many years as Senior Advisor to the China Program of The Carter Center, and currently serves as Special Advisor to the US-China Education Trust. He is a member of The Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee on US-China Relations, and the Washington State China Relations Council. He has received a number of honors and awards, both for his teaching and for his efforts on behalf of stable and productive U.S.-China relations.

Dr. Kapp is a graduate of Swarthmore College, and received his doctorate in modern Chinese history from Yale University.

Eric Zheng, President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

Eric Zheng became the President of AmCham 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.

Daniel Brindel, President, Novartis Group

Dan Brindle became President of Novartis Group (China) on September 1, 2020. He is responsible for developing and driving implementation of Novartis’s integrated strategy for China.

Mr. Brindle joined Novartis from the China law firm ZY Partners, where he was a partner focused on China corporate law and external strategic engagement. Prior to this role, he was vice president, International Government Affairs for GlaxoSmithKline in Singapore. Mr. Brindle also held senior leadership roles with Pfizer and Eli Lilly & Company across Asia and in the United States.

Mr. Brindle has a long-standing connection with Asia, especially with China. He has completed extensive coursework in Asian studies, spent most of his career in Asia and held important roles in organizations including APEC and the US-ASEAN Business Council, facilitating relations between Asia and the West.

Mr. Brindle holds a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School and is a member of the State Bar of California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Asian studies from the University of Puget Sound, and conducted graduate coursework at Cornell University and at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese & American Studies.

After joining Novartis, Mr. Brindle relocated to Shanghai with his family. He speaks English, Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish.

MODERATOR

Nor Coquillard, Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council

Nor Coquillard served as a business executive in Asia running the operations of Cargill, Incorporated in Korea, Japan and China from the mid 1980’s until 2010. During that time, he held numerous positions in business associations including serving as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai for several years.

Nor served as the Chairman and President of Enactus China, the China operations of the U.S.-based non-profit. From 2011 to 2017, he also served as the of Chairman of IMA China, an organization that hosts forums for the China-based CEOs of multinational corporations.

Nor is on the International Advisory Council of the global consulting firm, APCO and is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.