Professor Dr. Zheng HAN is Chair Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Sino-German School for Postgraduate Studies (CDHK), Tongji University, in Shanghai. He is also founder of HAN Executive Advisory and Development, a boutique executive development company specialized in strategy and change management, marketing and innovation management. He also co-created the Brand Academy, an innovative executive development platform together with Porsche China.

Professor Han studied in Germany and holds an Industrial Engineering Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering of TU Braunschweig. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and was scholar of the Swiss National Science Foundation, visiting scholar of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in China and the Wharton-SMU Research Centre in Singapore. His articles appear in renowned international journals such as International Journal of Technology Management, Journal of Knowledge Management, R&D Management, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. Professor Han teaches EMBA and top executive programs for leading international business schools and universities such as ESMT, ESSEC Business School, ETH Zürich, Mannheim Business School, Tongji University and University of St. Gallen.

Before his academic career, Professor Han served as Chief Representative and Chief Investment Advisor of a Fortune Global 500 company in China for 7 years. In this capacity, he was responsible for strategic investments and the expansion strategy of portfolio companies in the region. Professor Han works on strategy, innovation and marketing advisory projects and design and deliver frequently executive development programs, workshops and keynote speeches for both MNCs and “Hidden Champions” such as Alibaba, BASF, Bosch, Continental, Freudenberg, Heraeus, IBM, Leica Cameras, Metro Group, Mubea, Porsche, Schott, Schindler, and Siemens.

Christian Stipp is an international brand expert with a vast experience in brand strategy, brand development and product management. In recent years he has been recognized as a global expert in creating and executing brand experience for multinational brands all over the world.

Christian started his career in the sporting goods industry, when he worked for the biggest sporting goods Retailer Karstadt Sports for almost 10 years. In different positions he developed Karstadt Sports’ brand strategy and own products, created cooperations with NFL, NBA, MLB and German Bundesliga and implemented worldwide trends into the stores.

In 1996 Christian joined the Adidas Group, where he held the position of the Global Business Unit Manager of Apparel, for which he created and developed the global product range. Christian and his team were in charge of several big product shots sold in range of several million pieces per year.

In 2004, Christian went with his family to Shanghai and opened the Avantgarde office in China with the goal to help multinational brands to (re-) connect with their key target groups and to position themselves in a dynamic Chinese market by creating memorable brand experiences.
His first big client was BMW China. For the automotive manufacturer, Avantgarde was in charge of several car launches, driving experiences and roadshows. As for example BMW’s very unique destination X Rallye, which started from four different locations and ended up in one final destination. Destination X is now in its 10th episode and has succeeded in generating a great and loyal fan community by showing BMW’s costumer the most exciting areas in China.
Besides BMW and Mini, Avantgarde created also executed outstanding brand experiences and pop-up store concepts for the other premium automotive such as Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari or Aston Martin.

Christian’s agency was strongly involved to emphasize on Nike‘s commitment with the Chinese Olympic Team before the Bejing Olympics.
The building of a museum for Lebron James, which reflected the basketball player’s amazing athletic development, was one more prominent project Christian was in charge.

In 2011 Christian went back to Munich. He was able to continue his successful path in a global role as Managing Director by winning new clients and worked close together with the Avantgarde offices in Delhi, London and Shanghai.

Christian is back in Shanghai since 2018. He is still taking care about Avantgarde’s core business ‘brand experience’ but extend it by new formats, which are in development.

Christian is married and father of 3 children (22/20/12).

Brigitte Wolff is the President of EIM Executive Interim Management China, providing companies with experts for all kinds of functions and industries for permanent and interim positions, and has been working more than 18 years in China. During this period, she was a Partner at Booz&Company China (now PwC Strategy& China), MD and Partner of Management Engineers Business Consulting China and founder of Abacus Corporation Business Consulting China.

Since 2008 she is also a board member at the German Chamber of Commerce | Shanghai and its charity activities, such as the More than a Market initiative, working with German companies’ social engagement in China. Since 2017 she serves as a board member of the European Chamber of Commerce China in Shanghai. Prior to that she held management positions in Germany at Oliver Wyman and Constantia Packaging as well as Steinbeis Packaging.

She holds a German Engineer Diploma (Diplom-Ingenieur) from Technical University of Munich (TUM).