Neumann International - A leading international executive search group enters China

The Shanghai and Hong Kong offices are managed by Hans Stremme, Neumann’s resident expert on the Asian market. Hans has worked in Asia for over 12 years in both executive search and consulting.

Serge Lamielle, CEO of Neumann International, stated: “We are very excited to launch offices in Greater China. This strategic move complements Neumann’s expansion and growth strategy in Europe and the emerging markets. Hans Stremme has an in-depth knowledge of the Chinese market and culture. He will be able to assist our international and European clients who are planning to either strengthen or launch their operations in China. In addition, he will be able to assist PRC nationals who are seeking to expand their experience abroad.”

The Chinese economy is expected to continue booming until the end of 2008. Its GDP growth is then expected to “slow down” to around 10% per annum for the next five years. In order to meet this level of growth, China will need to create 20 to 24 million jobs a year, in order to stand still on the employment front. 1)

As a result, Western companies doing business in China will need to recruit more highly educated Chinese executives, as well as Chinese speaking American and European talent.  There are currently several thousand Western European companies operating in China with a vast majority located in the Greater Shanghai area (manufacturing industry) or in Hong Kong (financial services industry).

In addition, Chinese companies will also increasingly require talented experts from the West to help them meet their rapid development requirements. They will seek advice from leading international executive search and HR consultancies based in China to assist them with their international growth strategy.

The trend to hire expatriates in China has drastically increased from 27% on a senior executives level in 2005 to over 40% in 2007 and is expected to continue. In 2007, Western European expatriates – hired from abroad - accounted for 51.1% of the top executives and 36.5% of directors. In total they accounted for 21.4% of the overall expatriate business community in China. It is estimated that by 2015, China will require about 70,000 globally experienced managers but has presently only an estimated 4,000 to 5,000.

Hans Stremme holds an MBA from the Universities of Bochum and Hamburg in Germany.  He has over 30 years experience working in London, the Middle-East and Asia (China, Sri-Lanka, Thailand and Laos) holding strategic positions within international companies and HR consulting. Prior to joining Neumann International, Hans was head of personnel management services in a Shanghai based international management consultancy where he recruited mid to senior level executives for China based European companies. Hans is also Vice Chairman of the HR Working Group of the European Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and a member of the German, Italian and Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai.

About Neumann International

Neumann International, founded in Vienna in 1971, is a leading European-based executive search consultancy with a global network of 30 offices located in 20 countries. Renowned for its cross border international strengths, Neumann offers a seamless service and has a market leading presence in Western, Central and Eastern Europe. It intends to take key positions in China and the Middle East.

For further information please contact:

Hans Stremme

Principal

37F The Center
989 Changle Road
Shanghai 200031, PRC

Tel: +86-21-5407 5599
Email:   hans.stremme@neumann-inter.com