Based in Spencer Stuart’s Shanghai and Hong Kong offices, Richard Zhu leads the firm’s Industrial Practice in Asia Pacific. Bringing his extensive international background and network from multiple industries, he helps multinationals, Asian and Chinese businesses, as well as investor-backed companies, building and renewing global and regional leadership to meet their strategic imperatives. Richard is also a member of the firm’s Private Equity and Supply Chain practices.

Global expertise and deep insight into the Asia market

  • Within the broad industrial arena, Richard has a primary focus on the automotive, transportation & logistics and industrial services sectors. He specializes in board director and senior executive search assignments in the general management, commercial and operations functions. During his tenure with Spencer Stuart, he has represented clients looking for profitable growth through new product introduction, service offerings and geographic expansion, as well as clients in need of drastic operational or financial transformation.
  • As a member of the global supply chain practice, Richard helps clients in a wide range of industries, spanning the automotive, industrial and high tech manufacturing, retail, consumer products, chemical, and healthcare sectors. He helps them build and strengthen their supply chain capabilities by recruiting senior executives in manufacturing, procurement, logistics, shared services and integrated supply chain management.
  • Richard brings more than 20 years’ experience to his client work. Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, he held executive positions in general management, corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and senior sales and operations management roles throughout Asia and Europe with leading global companies, including UPS, Agility and Sea-Land Services (now part of Maersk Line).

Prior to his industrial experience, Richard lectured at various universities in China and Canada. He earned a Ph.D. in management science and operations research from University of British Columbia.

Practice Areas