John Ling

After graduating, Mr. Ling worked as managing director for a U.S./China joint venture, Metallic Building Systems (Asia) Inc. He worked with home appliances maker-Haier, to set up the first Chinese-owned greenfield manufacturing operation in the US in 1999. He moved to Shanghai in 2005 to open South Carolina’s first office in China, with main responsibilities to recruit Chinese investment to South Carolina. China-affiliated and owned companies invest over $1 billion and employ close to 4000 individuals in South Carolina. In August 2015, Mr. Ling has been retained by the state of Georgia as its managing director for investment in China. Mr. Ling also currently serves as president of Council of American States in China.