Beijing Chapter

Jacob Cooke is the Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a leading e-commerce and technology consultancy that drives growth for global brands in China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

As CEO, Mr. Cooke is the driving force behind WPIC’s world-class data tools, e-commerce services, and artificial intelligence technology. Under his leadership the firm has built out an expansive solution set covering data analytics, e-commerce activations and store management, brand strategy, creative campaigns, merchandising, warehousing, 3Pl integrations, and more.

Mr. Cooke has been based in Beijing since 2003.

Justin Downes serves as President of Axis Leisure Management and has held a number of senior resort and tourism leadership roles over 25 years and on three continents including some of the industry’s leading four-season resorts.

Prior to founding Axis, Mr. Downes served as Senior VP Operations for Melco China Resorts (formerly Intrawest China) and was responsible for the planning, development, and operation of five major resorts in China’s North East including Yabuli and Beidahu. He later served as COO for Genting Secret Garden Resort (host resort for the 2022 Winter Olympics), overseeing business and master planning up to the time of opening. Axis is currently involved in multiple high-profile mountain resorts and indoor winter sport developments as well as working with multiple iconic international sport, leisure and tourism brands. Mr. Downes also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Freestyle Canada – Canada’s national freestyle ski program.

Prior to coming to China in 2006, Mr. Downes held the role of CEO for Hotham Skiing Company, one of Australia’s leading ski resorts and tourism assets. From 2000-2005, he served as the opening General Manager and Developer of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. As the leader of this project, he oversaw all aspects of the development and operations that lead to it becoming one of North America’s leading resort properties. Throughout the 90’s, Mr. Downes held a number of Executive roles with Intrawest ULC, in Whistler and Panorama, British Columbia.

Axis is a leading leisure and hospitality consultancy headquartered in Beijing, specializing in four-season development projects on behalf of domestic developers, and representing leading foreign firms in the hospitality/leisure industry looking to offer service, or launch their brand into the growing Asian marketplace in the areas of ski, golf, integrated resorts and entertainment venues.

Ms. Vivi Hou is the President and CEO of Power Pacific Corporation Ltd. Ms. Hou also services as the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of China AMC; and is a board member of the Canada China Business Council.

Power Corporation of Canada is a global leading financial holding group and is listed on Fortune 500. Power Group’s investment in China comprises direct holding in China AMC; investments in listed securities (Power Pacific Investment Management) and PE/VC funds.

Ms. Hou’s international career in financial services and experience in senior management roles has spanned nearly two decades across North America and Greater China. She started her career as a member of the investment team for Investors Group, and was appointed as member of Harvest Global Investment’s Global Management Committee, Chief Business Development Officer and Head of China Strategy. Prior to that, she headed CSOP Asset Management’s Business Development and Private Equity businesses.

Andy H. Truong is a Canadian citizen and active international educator and community leader. Mr. Truong is a graduate of York University and completed a second degree at Ryerson University in Canada before earning his MBA from Tsinghua University in China in 2008. He is the CEO of AKD International Inc., a leading Canadian education company based in Toronto, which operates 11 schools in China under the brands of Canadian International School (CIS) and Concord College of Sino-Canada (CCSC). He is also the Co-founder of the Canadian Alumni Network (CAN) and currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Canada China Business Council’s Beijing Chapter.

Mr. Truong currently resides with his wife Vivian and their two children, Bowen and Chloe, in Beijing. His career in education and ongoing commitment to both Canada and China reflect his dedication to building connections and relationships with educators, ensuring the younger generation has access to global education. In his free time, he volunteers with different charitable organizations. He strongly believes in global education and competency. In June 2024, he received the Canadian Senator Victor Oh Legacy Award for his work in building bridges between Canada and China through innovative education to young people.

Albert Yu has been Managing Director and Head of Asia at Bank of Montreal since 2016, where he was serving as Chief Executive Officer of Asia and Managing Director of Asia at Bank of Montreal. Mr. Yu is responsible for the growth and development of BMO Financial Group’s businesses and functions throughout Asia and serves as President of BMO’s locally incorporated subsidiary, Bank of Montreal (China) Co. Ltd. Mr. Yu joined BMO in January 2009 and is based in Beijing.

Mr. Yu is an accomplished banker with more than two decades of global experience in capital markets and wealth management. He has extensive Canadian management experience and expertise across Asian and North American markets.

Prior to joining BMO Mr. Yu was based in New York, leading a number of HSBC’s capital markets businesses including financial products, sales and structured wealth management. Before joining HSBC in 2000, he was Head of financial products marketing in North America for CIBC World Markets, and global head of transaction development.

Mr. Yu started his career in 1986 with Bankers Trust and HSBC in Toronto and Hong Kong, where he held various trading, banking and management positions. He serves as Director at BMO ETF – BMO Asia High Dividend ETF, and Bank of Montreal (China) Co. Ltd.

Mr. Yu has a Master of Science degree in finance from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Windsor.

Jianwei Zhang was appointed President, Bombardier China in February, 2010. His responsibilities include providing advice, coordination and leadership in the management of the company’s relationships with various Chinese government entities, as well as strategic support for management of relations with other key jurisdictions.

Dr. Zhang is responsible for developing new business and for coordinating all of Bombardier’s activities in China. This includes assisting the management of seven manufacturing joint ventures and eight Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE), as well as working across the various product divisions to ensure a coordinated strategic approach to the business in China.

Dr. Zhang began his career at Bombardier as a project manager in 1995. Since then, he has held a variety of positions with rapidly increasing responsibility. He was promoted to Director, Projects and Business Development in 1997 and to Vice President of Bombardier Transportation in 1998. In 2005, he was named Chief Country Representative supporting both Bombardier Transportation and Bombardier Aerospace.

Prior to joining Bombardier, Dr. Zhang held several academic appointments as a Teaching Assistant and as an Assistant Professor. In addition, he was a senior government officer at the municipal level in China from 1975 to 1982.

Dr. Zhang graduated from Tianjin University in 1982 with an engineering degree (internal combustion engines). He received his MBA from Université de Montréal (Canada) in 1991 and his Doctorate in Administration from Université de Montréal in 1996. His specialization was enterprise strategy. In addition to his Doctoral Dissertation, he is the author of several articles on management science published in Canada and France.

Dr. Zhang sits on several standing committees of professional magazines as well as several Boards of Directors and advisory committees.