Eric Zheng is Chairman of Heng An Standard Life Insurance Company Limited (HASL), a 50-50 joint venture between Standard Life Aberdeen of the UK and TEDA International of China. Headquartered in Tianjin, HASL has 10 branches in the country and has achieved significant, profitable growth in recent years. It is the first foreign-invested insurance company in China to have been granted regulatory approvals to establish a pensions insurance subsidiary in the country and to acquire a life insurance company in Hong Kong.
Eric served as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai from 2018 to 2019. With over 3,000 members, AmCham Shanghai is the largest American chamber of commerce in Asia Pacific. In his elected position, Eric led the Board of Governors in driving the growth of AmCham Shanghai asthe “Voice of American Business” in China. Under his leadership, AmCham Shanghai played an active role in promoting mutually beneficial US-China trade relations and in supporting US businesses with their growth in China.
Eric was President & CEO of AIG Insurance Company China Ltd. from 2013 to 2018. Headquartered in Shanghai, AIG China was the largest wholly-owned international general insurance company in China with a history dating back to 1992 when China first opened its market to foreign insurance companies. Prior to his role as President & CEO, Eric served as General Manager of AIG Shanghai Branch, the largest branch operation of AIG China. Before his branch management role, Eric was Head of Strategic Planning of AIG China responsible for planning and executing business expansion strategies for AIG’s development in China. In his 14-year tenure with AIG, Eric played a key role in establishing AIG’s wholly-owned subsidiary in China in 2007 and in growing it into one of the most profitable general insurance companies in the country.
Prior to AIG, Eric served as the Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou from 2002 to 2004. As the most senior representative of the US Commerce Department in South China, Eric was responsible for assisting American companies in marketing their products and services to China and in doing business in the country. He spearheaded strong advocacy efforts for U.S. companies pursuing major business opportunities in both manufacturing and service sectors in China. Eric was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce with a Director-General’s Award for demonstrating exceptional performance and leadership.
Before working for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Eric was a management consultant with PwC in the U.S. During his 8-year tenure with the largest professional services firm in the world, Eric had increasing levels of responsibility including managing the China Desk, a consulting service that advised multinational companies on doing business in China. In that capacity, he counseled numerous clients on market entry and operating strategies for China.
Over the years, Eric has been active in a number of non-profit organizations. In addition to AmCham Shanghai, he currently serves on the boards of Shanghai Make-A-Wish Charity Foundation and of YK Pao School, a non-profit Year 1-12 school in Shanghai. Eric is also an academic advisor to graduate students in the Insurance Program of Fudan University. He has previously served as Executive Vice Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Insurance Companies under the Insurance Association of China, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, and Board Member of Enactus China.
Eric has been honored by the Shanghai municipal government with the prestigious Magnolia Gold Award in 2016 and the Magnolia Silver Award in 2013 for his significant contributions to the development of Shanghai. Eric received an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and a BA from Fudan University in Shanghai.
