October 27, 2020

ChinaTalk with Gordon Orr (senior advisor to McKinsey & Company)

55 minutes

What can we expect of China in the future? Many economists, CEOs, politicians, and commentators have been pondering this question. This is an interesting subject, particularly in relation to digital products, which have become China’s strong point. What is the economic prognosis for Chinese digital companies? What will future bring to Huawei? Can the Middle Kingdom become self-sufficient as a manufacturer of semiconductors? How will the future of the Chinese digital transformation look like? What changes can be expected in the global supply chain and will China loose in this transformation?

Gordon Orr, who has been working with and advising numerous companies, including McKinsey & Company, Lenovo, Meituan Dianping, and EQT, will answer these questions during an upcoming ChinaTalk webinar. The meeting will be hosted by Associate Professor Marcin Jacoby, Head of the Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University, and Zbigniew Niesobędzki, Ph.D., President of the Polish Chinese Business Council - a partner of the ChinaTalk series.

About „ChinaTalk” series

ChinaTalk is a series of interviews with leading global experts on China and East Asia, produced jointly by the Polish Chinese Business Council (PCBC) and SWPS University. Interviews are hosted by PCBC President, Mr. Zbigniew Niesiobędzki, and Professor Marcin Jacoby, Head of the Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University.

ChinaTalk brings you the latest knowledge on the economy, social issues, management, and politics of China and East Asia. Our guest interpret the current developments and trends in the Chinese economy, and predict global, regional and bilateral outcomes of political decisions. Chinese relations with the European Union, and Poland in particular, constitute an important context of these discussions. The expert insights provide valuable input for business practitioners, analysts, as well as researchers and students interested in macroeconomics and global trade.

Gordon Orr

A Non-Executive Director of Hong Kong listed Meituan Dianping, Lenovo, and Swire Pacific and of Stockholm listed EQT. He is also a Non-Executive Director of several privately held China and UK based tech companies. Beyond these formal roles, he provides counsel to a small number of China focused entrepreneurs. Gordon began his career at McKinsey in London. He moved to Hong Kong in 1993 and to Beijing a year later, opening McKinsey’s practice in China. Gordon led McKinsey’s Greater China practice for many years and was Chairman of McKinsey Asia from 2009 to 2014. He was on McKinsey’s global board of directors from 2003 to 2015 with responsibilities for Asia, Governance and Risk. He retired from McKinsey in 2015 and is now a Senior Advisor. Additionally, Gordon Orr is Vice Chair of the China Britain Business Council, Senior Advisor to Chatham House on China and an Associate of the Oxford University China Centre. Gordon writes regularly on China topics, mainly on LinkedIn, where he has more than 1.7 million followers.

Prof. Marcin Jacoby

Sinologist, translator, expert on socio-political processes in East Asia, particularly China and Republic of Korea. He is also Head of the Department of Asian Studies at SWPS University, where he teaches literature, art, and cultural diplomacy in China and East Asian.

Zbigniew Niesiobędzki, Ph.D.

Economist with a career associated with investment funds. Over the years, he worked for Deloitte, and served as board member and member of supervisory boards of many companies in the telecommunications, construction, and furniture sectors. Currently, he is President of the Polish Chinese Business Council.

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