China has been the biggest economic growth story of the past two decades. But as growth cools, the government and the business sector are taking a harder look at what it will take for China to sustain the levels of job creation and income growth it needs to make the transition to a consumption-led economy. In this podcast, Nick Leung talks to Jonathan Woetzel, Gordon Orr and Yougang Chen about a new report by the McKinsey Global Institute that takes a close look at economic growth and productivi...
Mar 06, 2015
In a recent survey we conducted of online consumers in China, we found a number of surprising trends that are shaking up the retail industry. In this podcast, Nick Leung talks with Alan Lau and Jayson Chi about the rise of China’s iConsumers, and what this means for business. Alan is a senior partner who leads McKinsey Digital in Asia. Jayson is a Partner with McKinsey Digital in Hong Kong. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice. Image: Julien Gong Min / Flickr...
Feb 16, 2015
Chinese banking customers are gradually shifting their business away from the so-called “Big Four” state-owned banks. They’re also becoming more receptive to online banking. These are two of the four trends identified in a new survey of over 3,500 Chinese banking customers across China. In this podcast, Nick Leung talks with Joe Ngai and Jared Shu about what these trends mean for banks competing in China today. Joe is a Senior Partner who leads the Financial Institutions Practice in Greater Chin...
Jan 09, 2015
As Chinese consumers get wealthier and consume more, their diets and lifestyles change. While still not at the levels seen in mature markets, obesity is on the rise in China. What should China do to address this issue early on? In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this topic with Jonathan Woetzel and Franck LeDeu. Jonathan is a Senior Partner in Shanghai who leads the McKinsey Global Institute in Asia. Franck is a Partner who leads McKinsey’s Healthcare Practice in China. Nick is Managing Partn...
Dec 29, 2014
It’s that time of year again: time for Gordon Orr’s annual predictions for China’s economy in the new year! The economy is slowing, consumption is cooling, and jobs are getting harder to find. What does Gordon have to say about all this? In this episode, he discusses his forecasts with Nick Leung and Yougang Chen. Gordon is a Senior Partner in Shanghai. Yougang is a Partner who leads the McKinsey Global Institute in China. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice. This is th...
Dec 19, 2014
With 1.3 billion people to feed, agriculture is a critical sector of the Chinese economy. And as people consume both a greater quantity and variety of food, ensuring that supply keeps pace with demand is a perpetual challenge. In this podcast Nick Leung discusses this topic with Gordon Orr and Sheng Hong. Gordon is a Senior Partner in Shanghai. Sheng is a Partner who leads McKinsey’s work in China’s agriculture sector. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice. Image credit: ...
Nov 07, 2014
Chinese consumers love the internet. In the past decade, they’ve driven the explosive growth of e-commerce and social media. Chinese businesses, on the other hand, have yet to plug into the full power of the internet. If and when they do, however, they could unleash a whole new wave of productivity, innovation and growth in the Chinese economy. And the impact of these changes could be felt worldwide. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this topic with Jonathan Woetzel and Yougang Chen. They’re...
Aug 25, 2014
Private healthcare is a hot topic in China these days. Investors are announcing deals and raising new funds targeted at the sector, while new hospitals are sprouting up around the country. How will market forces transform China’s state-dominated healthcare sector? In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this question with Franck LeDeu, Jin Wang, and Alex Ng. Franck leads McKinsey’s healthcare practice in China. Jin is a Partner with the healthcare practice in Shanghai. Alex is an Associate Partner...
Jun 26, 2014
Until now, Chinese ecommerce has been a largely domestic affair. But with Alibaba’s much anticipated IPO, will we see China’s ecommerce players play a more active global role? In this podcast, Nick Leung addresses this question with Alan Lau and Jayson Chi. Alan is a senior partner who leads McKinsey’s High Tech, Media and Telecoms Practice in China. Jayson is a Partner who advises ecommerce companies. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice. Image credit: World Economic Fo...
May 19, 2014
China is big. It’s complex. But can you understand it in just one hour? That’s what Jeff Towson and Jonathan Woetzel argue in “The One Hour China Book” in which they describe the six megatrends shaping China today in just six short stories. In this podcast, Nick Leung chats with the authors about why they wrote the book, and how the megatrends they describe are reshaping business and society in China. Jeff is managing partner of Towson Capital, a private equity firm. Jonathan is a Director in Mc...
Mar 27, 2014
Digital technologies are promising to shake up China’s stodgy banking sector. Increasingly tech-savvy customers are shifting from branches to digital channels. Ecommerce giants such as Alibaba are launching innovative online savings and investment products. These and other challenges are leading some observers to ask: Is China’s banking sector headed for a digital revolution? In this podcast, Nick Leung addresses this question with Kenny Lam and Joe Chen. Kenny is a Partner in Hong Kong who lead...
Feb 06, 2014•19 min
2014 is expected to be a busy year for Chinese companies seeking to list overseas. But the delisting of several Chinese firms from foreign exchanges in recent years has some wondering: why should Chinese companies list overseas? In this podcast, Nick Leung tackles this question with Gordon Orr and David Cogman. Gordon is Asia Chairman of McKinsey. David is a Partner in the Corporate Finance Practice. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice.
Jan 22, 2014•21 min
It’s 2014, and Gordon Orr is back with his annual predictions for the coming year in China. In this podcast, he discusses some of his prognostications with Nick Leung and Guangyu Li. Gordon is a Director based in Shanghai. Guangyu is a Partner there. Nick is the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China Practice.
Jan 05, 2014•19 min
China’s trust industry has rapidly emerged as a needed source of capital for firms that might otherwise not have ready access to traditional sources of funding. But while trusts will continue to play a major role in getting capital where it’s needed, there’s a growing concern that the industry could pose a risk to the stability of China’s financial system. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this topic with Stephan Binder and Xu Jun. Stephan and Jun are Partners in Shanghai who have recently p...
Dec 31, 2013•20 min
The recent announcement by the Chinese government of the relaxation of the one-child policy is casting light on the issue of how China plans to feed its people. The problem is especially acute given the rapid expansion of China’s cities, and the reduction of land available for farming. In this podcast, Nick Leung, Bruno Roy, and Sheng Hong discuss this issue. Bruno is a Partner who leads McKinsey’s Private Equity Practice in China. Sheng is an Associate Partner in Beijing who leads McKinsey’s wo...
Dec 09, 2013•20 min
In just over two decades, Shenzhen has gone from being a small farming village, to becoming the sprawling, first-tier Chinese city that it is today. Is there something to be learned from the Shenzhen experience in other parts of China? This is the topic of a recent conversation between Nick Leung, Jonathan Woetzel, Elsie Chang, and Changqing Zheng. Jonathan is a director who leads the McKinsey Global Institute in Asia, where Elsie is a Senior Fellow. Changqing is an associate principal who is co...
Dec 09, 2013•17 min
China is gearing up for a major event: the third plenary session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist party. Expectations are running high that the meeting will initiate a new wave of reform. This is the first opportunity for President Xi Jinping to articulate his economic vision for the country after a year as the leader of the Communist party.
Dec 09, 2013•20 min
What does the recent government crack-down portend for China’s pharma market?
Sep 18, 2013•19 min
As China evolves from being the workshop of the world to an economy driven by higher value-added products and services, it will need more high-skilled workers. But if current projections hold, China is likely to come up short. According to new McKinsey research, China faces a large and widening gap in the supply of university and vocational graduates. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this report with Jin Yu, Haimeng Zhang, and Li-Kai Chen. Jin and Haimeng are Partners who lead McKinsey’s Be...
Aug 14, 2013•17 min
Chinese companies do innovate. They just do it differently. China may not be known yet as a hotbed of innovation, but the signs are hard to ignore. A growing number of firms are creating new products and developing entirely new businesses that are changing the paradigm of Chinese innovation. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses emerging models of innovation in China with Erik Roth, Kevin Wang, and Gordon Orr. They’re Partners in McKinsey’s Shanghai office. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s...
Jul 11, 2013•17 min
How does China plan to tap the coming shale gas revolution? It still may be several years until China taps its shale gas reserves, but industry players are already plotting their strategies, and anticipation is running pretty high. How will shale gas impact China’s energy market? In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this question with Paul Sheng, Michael Wang and David Xu. Paul is a director with McKinsey’s global energy practice in Hong Kong. Michael and David are directors with the global ene...
Jun 28, 2013•19 min
Do rising labor costs and an appreciating renminbi spell the end of China’s role as the “factory of the world?” Do rising labor costs and the appreciation of the renminbi spell the end of China’s role as the “factory of the world”? Not so fast, argue the leaders of McKinsey’s Operations Practice in China. In this podcast, Nick Leung explores this issue with Martin Lehnich, Karel Eloot, and Alan Huang. They’re partners in McKinsey’s Shanghai office. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater ...
Jun 06, 2013•20 min
Does China need to make a trade-off between economic development and the environment? Severe air pollution has recently emerged as one of the biggest public health threats in China. Clearly, rapid economic growth and urbanization are at the root of the problem. But is air pollution an inevitable consequence of China’s climb up the economic ladder? In this podcast, Nick Leung tackles this question with Yinuo Li, Jonathan Woetzel, and Claudia Suessmuth-Dyckerhoff. Yinuo is a Partner with McKinsey’...
May 03, 2013•19 min
E-tailing is having a broader impact on China’s economy by stimulating consumption Almost overnight, China has become the world’s second-largest e-tail market, and is set to overtake the US in the next few years. According to a new report by the McKinsey Global Institute, e-tailing is not only transforming the retail landscape in China, it’s having a broader impact on the overall economy by stimulating consumption that would not otherwise take place. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses this re...
Apr 09, 2013•19 min
Driving growth in China’s premium car market is an emerging class of new mainstream consumers that seem more interested in styling and performance. According to a new report by McKinsey’s Automotive Practice, China is expected to become the world’s largest market for premium autos by 2016. Driving growth in the market is an emerging class of new mainstream consumers that seem more interested in styling and performance than earlier buyers of premium autos. In this podcast, Nick Leung discusses th...
Mar 15, 2013•19 min
As consumers get wealthier and their driving habits and preferences evolve, will market forces play a bigger role in shaping China’s auto market? According to a new report by McKinsey’s Automotive Practice, China is expected to drive over one-third of total growth in the global auto market from now until 2020. The guiding hand of government has always been felt in China’s auto industry. But as consumers get wealthier and their driving habits and preferences evolve, will market forces play a bigg...
Feb 04, 2013•18 min
Innovation is a priority for Chinese companies. How innovative are they today? Most Chinese CEOs say that innovation is a priority topic on their agenda. But just how innovative are Chinese companies today? In this podcast, Nick Leung addresses this topic with Erik Roth and Alan Huang. Erik is a Partner in Shanghai who heads McKinsey’s Global Innovation Practice. Alan is a Partner in Shanghai. Nick is Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Greater China practice.
Jan 25, 2013•20 min
From spikes in pork prices to bankrupt retailers, 2013 could turn out to be a very interesting year in China. From spikes in pork prices to bankrupt retailers to international investment in Chinese soccer, 2013 could turn out to be a very interesting year for China. In this podcast, Nick Leung chats with Gordon Orr about his predictions for China in the coming year. Gordon is McKinsey’s Chairman for Asia. He’s joined by Yougang Chen, head of the McKinsey Global Institute in China. Nick is Managi...
Jan 15, 2013•26 min
Flush with cash, China’s rich are seeking ways to preserve as well as expand their wealth. China’s economic boom has spawned a new class of wealthy individuals. Flush with cash, China’s rich are seeking ways to preserve as well as expand their wealth. In this podcast, Nick Leung speaks with Emmanuel Pitsilis, Kenny Lam, and Jared Shu about a new survey they published that sheds light on what China’s wealthy are looking for when they shop for private banking services. Emmanuel and Kenny are Partn...
Dec 25, 2012•19 min
Domestic and multinational insurers need to take a fresh look at this dynamic market In most parts of the world, insurance is not a sector that draws a lot of attention. In China, however, it’s a dynamic industry with enormous growth potential, and one which is undergoing sweeping changes as well. In this podcast, Stephan Binder and Joe Ngai talk with Nick Leung about what domestic and multinational insurance players should do differently as they approach this lucrative but challenging market. S...
Dec 12, 2012•16 min
