SME Seminar: Governance, Branding & Marketing, Made in China 2025, Labor Law

During this half-day event, we will discuss some of the most important topics and challenges that foreign SMEs face in China.

1. Corporate Governance for SMEs in China – by Giovanni Pisacane of GWA
Giovanni Pisacane will provide updated information to understand the key factors involved in organizing, structuring and managing a company in China. It will focus on the critical issues that foreign investors and professionals encounter in China and using a clear and practical overview of Corporate Governance, Structure and Management of Foreign-Invested Enterprises under Chinese Law following the introduction of the 2015 Draft of the Foreign Investment Law. This latest reform will likely have a major impact on the investment landscape, as it calls for the replacement and unification of the three Foreign Investment Laws currently in place, resulting in important changes in the legal framework governing foreign investments. The presentation will examine company structures, together with their functions and relevant liabilities, the positions held in a company in order to better understand the stakes each holds in Corporate Governance: the shareholders, legal representative, board of shareholders, board of directors, board of supervisors and the general manager.

2. Branding and Marketing in Chinese market – by Chantel Huang of Process Brand Evolution
Chantel Huang will share Thermos as an entire branding and marketing case to demonstrate its brand positioning in the Chinese market. Furthermore, she will also demonstrate how to drive a marketing campaign tightly correlated with original brand core values in order to enhances brand awareness in the Chinese market. In addition, Chantel will share how foreign brands leverage WeChat as the major social media tool, which helps interact with their target audience in order to enhance brand loyalty in Chinese market.

3. Made in China 2025: A New Competitive Landscape – by Marshall Chen of Fiducia
China’s ambitious plan to transform itself into a high-tech power has stirred excitement as well as concerns among foreign SMEs. Will it turn China into a huge market for foreign technology and high-end products, or will it trigger new competitive challenges? Fiducia Managing Director Stefan Kracht will address these questions by drawing from the consulting firm’s on-the-ground insights. The presentation will include:

 

• Snapshots of how the competitive landscape is shifting in specific industries, such as automotive, machinery, and med-tech
• An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese companies
• Key actions foreign companies can take along their value chain to leverage their strengths in in China

 

4. The development and special applications of the Chinese labor law – by Karen Zhang of Comet AG
Karen will present the case of Comet AG, which has added employees continuously and now has over 100 staff in China. Looking back at the implementation of the new Chinese labor law in 2008, Karen will elaborate on the law’s special applications and how they developed in the last 10 years. She will also focus on best practices in the

termination process, which has become one of the major issues HR and general management have to spend time on in China in the last years.

 

About the speakers

Giovanni Pisacane – Partner at GWA
Giovanni Pisacane is a business lawyer specialized in International practice with a long experience in Arbitration and Mediation and member of IBA (International Bar Association). He has been practicing as a business lawyer since 1996. He completed his education in Private International Law at The Hague Academy in the Netherlands. In 2004 he founded GWA, an International legal and tax consulting firm, in Shanghai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chantel Huang, Member of the Executive Board – Managing Director, Shanghai of Process Brand Evolution
With over 12 years experience, Chantel Huang has deep understanding in different global business models and brand strategies. She has enormous passion to help clients build successful brand identities and positioning. Under her lead, Process Shanghai is serving both international and domestic major brands, e.g. Electrolux, iF Design, Pechoin, and Thermos.

 

 

 

 

 

Marshall Chen – Manager, Fiducia
As the head of Fiducia’s China Consulting Team, Marshall has 15 years’ experience in providing multinational clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and strategic advice to support their growth in the Chinese market. His expertise ranges from conducting in-depth market studies (market mapping, competitor benchmarking, cost-competitive analysis, demand analysis) to strategy formulation for market entry and growth, as well as M&A support. Marshall has extensive experience in supporting clients from various industries, including plastics, machinery and medical devices.

 

 

 

 

 

Karen Zhang – HR Director of Comet AG in China
Karen Zhang has been working as an HR generalist for 20 years. Since 2015, she is the HR Director of Comet AG in China and has previously led the personnel modules in M&A projects for several companies in different business sectors, closely dealing with labor law related issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

13:30 – 14:00 Registration
14:00 – 15:30 Presentations
15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break
15:45 – 17:30 Presentations

Prices:

Members: 250RMB Non Members: 400RMB

Please register here by November 21, 2017