Ling Yang China Editor MERGERMARKET

Ling Yang is China Editor for Mergermarket, a global news intelligence service for advisors, private equity firms and corporates. She heads a team of dedicated specialists across China to cover corporate growth strategies, M&A deals, PE buyouts, cross-border M&A intelligence, as well as data-backed analysis and trend pieces.

Ling has been an investigative M&A reporter for 12 years with a special focus on private equity coverage. She was the head of consumer and retail coverage for APAC with Mergermarket. She joined Mergermarket in Hong Kong in 2011 before moving to Shanghai in 2016.

Gunther Hamm Co-Head HOPU MAGNOLIA

Gunther Hamm is the Co-Head of HOPU Magnolia and a Partner at HOPU Investments. HOPU Magnolia is a dedicated Growth fund leveraging HOPU’s platform resources and significant track record of Growth investing.

Mr. Hamm has been an investor for more than 20 years with a primary focus on the Technology and Consumer sectors, including the last 15 years based in China. He previously worked at Hillhouse Capital, CDH Investments and JPMorgan, all with a focus on the Technology and Consumer growth sectors.

Mr. Hamm currently holds board seats at ARM China, Laiye RPA, Trax Retail, and Ceva Animal Health. Other investments include SenseTime, CATL, NextData. His investments have twice won AVCJ ‘Deal of the Year’ awards.

Mr. Hamm was educated at Dartmouth College (BA) and Tsinghua University. He is currently a Trustee at Choate Rosemary Hall, where he helps oversee the management of its endowment.

Tian Ai Managing Director L CATTERTON

Tian is a Managing Director at L Catterton who is based in Beijing. Having extensive deal sourcing and execution, as well as portfolio management experience, he helps lead investments for the firm in China.

Before joining L Catterton, Tian spent over a decade at Carlyle, where he focused on growth equity and leveraged buyout deals in Asia's consumer market, as well as co-investments with the firm's American and European sister funds. Prior to that, he was with TPG’s buyout team in Asia. He was previously also with Goldman Sach's investment banking division.

Tian received a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics-Economics from Wesleyan University, where he was a Freeman Asian Scholar. He currently serves on Wesleyan’s President’s Council and was previously also on its Alumni Association Executive Committee.

Ian Lee Managing Partner DEWU CAPITAL

Mr. Ian Lee is the Managing Partner of Dewu Capital, a leading RMB venture capital fund focused on early stage investments in Fintech and Enterprise Services. He was the CEO of Will’s Fitness Group and served as the CFO of Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: GSMG) and TKK Symphony Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: TKKS) as well as Senior Advisor for Xinua Mobile.

Prior to that, He was the Operating Partner of Evolution Media China. From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Lee was CFO of TPG’s two RMB  funds, Shanghai and Chongqing. In 2013, he served as COO of DMG, a Chinese entertainment and communication company. From 2005 to 2012, Mr. Lee was with Omnicom Media Group, part of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC), a global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company, serving as Finance Director, CFO and President & COO of China.

From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Lee was with News Corp/21st Century Fox, where he spent 7 years in the Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices in various positions, including Vice President of STAR China, News Corp’s China Operation; and Finance Director of ChinaByte, a JV between People’s Daily and News Corp.

Mr. Lee holds a Bachelor degree in Genetics from Sichuan University, China and a Master of Management from University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. He had won Australia Alumni Award, Omnicom Group Financial Leadership Award, Star Group Achiever Award and Hononary Texan.

Karen Lai Managing Director LIONROCK CAPITAL

Karen Lai is a Managing Director of LionRock Capital, a seasoned Asian private equity firm with an investment focus on consumer and sports sectors. She oversees the investments, investor relations and fund operations functions of LionRock Capital. She has over 18 years’ experience in private equity and investment banking.

Prior to joining LionRock Capital, she was an Investment Executive at Candover, a European private equity fund, where she focused on mid-market growth companies in the Greater China region. Prior to that, she worked at Credit Suisse focusing on fixed income structuring, as well as at Bank of America Merrill Lynch focusing on corporate finance and corporate risk management.

Ms. Lai received a Bachelor of Science in Economics (summa cum laude and member of Beta Alpha Psi) from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).