AmCham Vietnam Board of Governors in HCMC

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2020 AmCham Vietnam Board of Governors in HCMC

Chad Ovel

CHAIRMAN, Partner, Mekong Capital

Chad Ovel has lived and worked in Vietnam continuously since 1996.

Chad is a Partner at Mekong Capital, a Vietnam-focused Private Equity firm, specializing in consumer driven businesses. Established in 2001, Mekong Capital has the most extensive private equity track record in Vietnam having completed 35 private equity investments, of which 26 have been fully exited. Chad has led Mekong Capital’s successful investments in various sectors including pharmaceuticals, real estate, logistics, casual dining and retail.

Before joining Mekong Capital, Chad had a successful track record as a CEO leading the rapid growth of ScanCom Vietnam, a foreign-owned furniture export manufacturing business, and AA Corporation, a local company operating in the sectors of construction, retail and manufacturing.

Chad is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He holds a BA from Carleton College and an MBA from University of Chicago.

Michael Beckman

VICE CHAIR, Managing Partner, EY Law Vietnam

Michael currently leads the newly launched law firm of EY Indochina, a fast growing team of 15 corporate lawyers based in Ho Chi Minh City. EY Law Global has over 4,000 lawyers in 85 offices around the world, and now intends to expand quickly throughout ASEAN. Michael will head this expansion process in Indochina.

Michael has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law. Prior to joining EY, Michael worked as a corporate attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York, London and Los Angeles, as well as Debevoise & Plimpton in New York, focusing on international corporate bankruptcy, securities and M&A work. He is a member of the bar of New York and California and is a licensed foreign lawyer in Vietnam.

Outside of law, Michael worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in their pharmaceutical practice group and managed his own hedge funds for a decade.

Michael graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University, received his M.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from Yale Law School. He also studied at both Cambridge University in the UK and Georg-August University in Germany.

Thuy Hang Nguyen

VICE CHAIR, Partner, Baker & McKenzie

Hang Nguyen is a partner at Baker McKenzie and the current head of the Employment and Labor practice in Vietnam.

Hang’s practice focuses on Employment and Labor, M&A as well as Corporate and Compliance matters. Her diverse working experience, broad knowledge in various areas of law, and business management qualifications allow her to provide clients with practical and commercially savvy legal advice in order to create effective, strategic and innovative solutions to navigate the ever-changing legal landscape of Vietnam. As head of the Employment and Labor practice, Hang is responsible for developing and providing strategy for the practice as well as for training and coaching team members and coordinating the global and regional employment practices in relation to Vietnam. She is also a member of the Steering Committee for the Firm’s Asia Pacific Employment Practice Group and the Global Immigration and Mobility Group.

Hang received her legal education in both Vietnam and the U.S., having obtained a bachelor’s degree in International Law from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, an LL.M. from the Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, and an Executive MBA from the University of Hawaii’s Shidler College of Business. Hang is one of the few lawyers dually admitted to practice law in New York State and Vietnam. During her almost 14 – year tenure at Baker McKenzie, Hang has worked at the Firm’s Vietnam, Barcelona and London offices.

Hang has been an active member of AmCham since 2006 and has represented AmCham as well as the broader business community at numerous expert working groups, seminars and conferences. She has also worked face-to-face with Vietnamese Government agencies for more than a decade on employment and labor law issues, including in the overhaul of the Vietnam Labor Code in 2012 and the adoption of various implementation decrees and circulars and the ongoing revision the Labor Code. In 2013, she was nominated to become the Chair, and since 2017 Co-Chair, of HR/Labor Committee and has held this position ever since. In her capacity as Chair/Co-Chair, she has revived the committee through organizing successful events and activities for the benefit of AmCham members and administering the AmCham scholarship program. Hang is also the point of contact for the Board of Governors and other Committees when it comes to employment and labor issues. She has been deeply involved in policy discussions on labor and employment issues arising during the negotiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and other issues that affect the business community in Vietnam, frequently acting as an adviser to US Government agencies and industry stakeholders on Vietnam employment and labor law.

Hang was elected as a Governor of the Board of Governors in 2017. She is a member of the Executive Committee-plus, being in charge of Committees and advocacy. Hang has been a very active Governor, and played a key role in driving advocacy activities of the Chamber. In July 2019, she joined other Governors to represent Ho Chi Minh City Chapter in the 2019 Doorknock mission of Amchams of Asia Pacific to Washington D.C. to meet with the US Administration and Congress on trade and investment issues between the US and Asia Pacific region. During the mission, she also arranged a meeting between AmCham Vietnam and Vietnamese Embassy to the US and Trade Office to discuss US-Vietnam bilateral trade and investment issues.

Jonathan Moreno

SECRETARY, General Director, Diversatek Vietnam

Jonathan is the General Director of Diversatek Vietnam (formerly Sandhill Scientific and Medovations), a member of the Diversatek group of medical technology companies. Diversatek opened its Vietnam manufacturing operation in Binh Duong, December 2010, representing a US high-technology investment, and continues to expand.

In 2012, Jonathan helped form AmCham’s first Manufacturing Committee. The committee was established to increase value for AmCham’s manufacturing sector members, including the supporting supply chain, by providing networking opportunities and collaborative solutions which cannot be achieved as effectively by individual member companies. Key initiatives included advocacy related to trade facilitation and the annual “Supplier’s Day.”

Currently, Jonathan provides leadership for AmCham’s Healthcare Committee. The Healthcare Committee is a critically important network uniquely representing AmCham companies across all healthcare sectors such as pharma; medical devices; hospitals and clinics; physicians; pharmacies; diagnostics; and supporting services.

Jonathan also served on the AMCHAM HCMC Board of Governors from 2013-2018. He served as Vice Chair in 2016 and Chairman in both 2017-2018. Additionally, he served on the Vietnam Business Forum Management Board.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of South Carolina and a MBA from the University of Hawaii.

Alan Danner

TREASURER, Director of Finance, Intel Products Vietnam

Director of Finance for Intel’s manufacturing operations in Vietnam. Leads a team of ~30 direct and matrix finance professionals responsible for all financial support including Corporate Finance and Accounting, Global Tax and Trade, Risk Management and Operations Finance. This role requires extensive interactions with Senior Vietnamese Government officials and other external parties. Focused on keeping Intel legal and compliant, growing our business, accelerating our operational effectiveness and developing our regional capabilities and leadership pipeline.

Prior to the assignment in Vietnam, Alan was the Senior Finance Controller for Intel Americas Sales and Marketing where he led an organization of 23 finance professionals responsible for driving revenue growth on a global scale as well as supporting sales incentive structures and providing risk management capabilities. Over a span of 20 years with the firm, Alan has held a variety of finance roles spanning from manufacturing to product design to marketing support. His experience leading global teams has developed an in-depth understanding of Intel’s diverse geographical presence and unique challenges in the marketplace.

Walter Blocker

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vietnam Trade Alliance

Walter Blocker is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Trade Alliance, with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Can Tho, Da Nang, and Hanoi Vietnam. He is a native of Kentucky and has been a resident of Vietnam since 1995. The firm provides nationwide FMCG and Material distribution from 6 hubs and cross docking in 45 provinces. The Vietnam Trade Alliance offers nationwide, 24 hour direct distribution, and cash collections with real time reporting using its own proprietary Alli management software.

Walter served three terms as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, served on the board of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Vietnam, YPO Southeast Asia, and is past Chairman of the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers.

Walter is first and foremost an entrepreneur. Over the past 20 years, he founded several business units encompassing industrial scale milk, juice, and tea production, nationwide warehousing and distribution, brand management, and general asset management. The group serves as the exclusive supply chain provider for numerous multinational consumer product companies in the beer/beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial chemical space. His firm was twice recognized by the Vietnamese Government for being one of the top 10 foreign enterprises in both Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai and is one of the nation’s largest private American investors.

Mark Gillin

Founder, Chairman and Managing Director AIM – American Indochina Management

Mark Gillin has been identifying, developing and investing in business opportunities in Indochina since 1993. He is a founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of America Indochina Management Ltd. (AIM) a diversified Holding Company with operations throughout Vietnam and Cambodia. Since its founding in 1996, AIM has established market leadership in a variety of product categories covering a diverse range of industries including Construction Materials, Specialty Furniture, Consumer Products and Industrial Consumables.

He is also a founder and Chairman of AIM Capital Management Ltd, an investment management company that provides expansion capital and strategic and operational support to small and medium sized companies throughout Indochina. AIM Capital Management has invested in Healthcare, Media, Technology, Furniture, Hospitality, and Consumer Products.

Mark has successfully managed businesses in a number of different markets at various stages of development (Japan, Hong Kong, Guam, Vietnam, Cambodia). Prior to coming to Vietnam in 1993, he spent five years with Getz Bros., the oldest and largest US non-commodities trading company, where he worked closely on marketing and distribution issues with leading MNCs including Nestlé, Mobile Chemical, Kimberly-Clark, Abbott Labs, Colgate-Palmolive, Heineken and others.

He has served as non-executive board member of Navigos, AA Corporation, Japan Vietnam Medical Corporation and Indochina Assets Limited. During his previous six years service as a member of Board of Governors, 2010-2015, he was Chairman in 2013 and Vice Chairman in 2012 and 2014.

Milton D. Hagler

General Director, Fluid Power & Controls, Co. Ltd.

Milton is the General Director of Fluid Power and Controls and has been providing leadership since 2018. Established in late 2007 and located in Binh Duong outside of Ho Chi Minh, Milton is the legal representative and responsible for all manufacturing operations. FPC is a wholly-owned manufacturing division of Deltrol Corporation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin a world leader in the development and manufacture of electromechanical controls, valves, hydraulic systems and components. Prior to joining FPC, Milton was the General Director of BriskHeat Vietnam for 5 years manufacturing flexible cloth heater jackets for the semiconductor tooling industry. BHV is a subsidiary of BriskHeat, Corporation, of Columbus, Ohio, a worldwide leader in industrial heating products. During Milton’s tenure, both Vietnam investments have successfully allowed the companies to significantly grow market share, enhance customer support, while growing Vietnam’s operations, production and engineering capacity, and expanded responsibilities.

Previously, Milton worked in software engineering at Autodesk in California before moving to Vietnam in 1998, where he has been living continuously since. Upon arrival, he helped establish VietCAD as a Partner and Development Director before founding Corigo and worked as its Chief Technical Officer to architect specialized web-based enterprise level software for corporate, HR and project management.

Milton first visited Vietnam in 1992 and returned in 1995 to live for several months while working in the CAD industry and studying Vietnamese. Early exposure to Vietnam has provided invaluable insight and understanding of the business and cultural climate of Vietnam, the challenges and opportunities it presents in a very dynamic and rapidly developing country.

Milton has been an active member of the Manufacturing Committee since 2014 and its Chairman for the last few years where he has aspired to expand the Committee’s mission to create a vibrant manufacturing community. Monthly meetings include expert presentations and information exchange on important topics around regulatory compliance and issues impacting manufacturers, organizing opportunities for networking and collaboration, and proactively building the local supply chain with the Manufacturing Committee hosting the annual AmCham Supplier Day event. Year-onyear Supplier Day has grown in importance with more companies taking part, increased corporate sponsorship and involvement of government and other business associations as they recognize the benefits and importance of the event for Vietnam. Milton has been a member of the Vietnam Trade Facilitation Alliance, and has participated in the ICT Committee, and as a panelist at HR Committee events.

A native of San Francisco, California, Milton earned an MBA from the University of Hawaii and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Sonoma State University (California).

Jahanzeb Qayum Khan

CEO & General Director, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage

Jahanzeb is the CEO & General Director of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Company. Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverages ( is a strategic alliance between PepsiCo Inc and Suntory Holdings Limited, a Japanese beverages giant After more than 25 years of operations in Vietnam, SPVB is one of the leading beverage companies with 5 manufacturing facilities nationwide, 5 sales offices and 1 Head office The company now provides direct employment for more than 2 800 employees and thousands of indirect employees It has 13 brands in market, playing in 7 categories, which are backed with a strong Go To Market strategy.

We have almost 400 Distributors as our partners and more than 1 900 Salesmen who work everyday to make sure our products reach 400 000 outlets through direct service and 700 000 outlets through wholesalers As part of our Sustainable Development agenda, we believe in being responsible towards the community we operate in Therefore, alongside providing high quality products to meet the needs of consumers, SPVB carries out series of activities to support clean water and education This is living our company Value of “giving back to the society SPVB is one of the top employers of choice in Vietnam and has recently been awarded 1 st place amongst the Top 10 Most Trustworthy beverage companies in Vietnam (Non alcohol sector)*

Jahanzeb has close to 30 years of working experience in MNCs His last 19 years in PepsiCo saw him working extensively in Asia Middle East and Africa, namely Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria, Iran and Thailand Prior to joining SPVB, he was based in Bangkok as Vice President, Business Development and Transformation Asia Pacific Before the Transformation role, he was the General Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading both Snacks and Beverage portfolios From July 2019 Jahanzeb assumed the charge of CEO General Director of SPVB.

Jahanzeb is a graduate in Electrical Engineering with a degree from the University of Maryland, USA Jahanzeb plays golf, loves hunting and reading books He also likes spending time with his wife and children and strives to achieve a good work life balance.

Ly Le

Legal and Public Affairs & Communications Director, Coca-Cola Indochina

Ly Le joined the Company in 2013 as Legal and Public Affairs and Communication Director of Coca-Cola Indochina.

Prior joining Coca-Cola, she was responsible for all aspects of legal work, government affairs, regulatory affairs, general legal services and ethics and compliance matters of the Vietnam operations of a global cosmetics firm, and from 2010, in addition to her Vietnam responsibilities, Ly Le has overseen legal work in Thailand for the firm. She has been actively involved in various non-government business associations, including the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Direct Selling Committee, the Vietnam Association of Oils – Aromas – Cosmetics, the Vietnam Association of Trademark Protection, and the establishment of the local Vietnam Direct Selling Association.

She has served on AmCham Boards of Governors from 2001. She led the development of the AmCham Food and Beverage Committee in 2013 and has become the Vice Chair of F&B Committee. She is also the Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility Committee in AmCham. She is appointed as Vice-Chair of U.S- ASEAN Business Council in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, she was elected to be the Chair of AmCham Vietnam as the first Vietnamese woman holding this chairmanship. She also receives ASEAN Women’s Entrepreneur Award for her leadership to contribute to local women business community in Vietnam.

Her versatile expertise adds much value to high-level diplomatic ties through U.S. – Vietnam relationship by corporate engagement, making her contribution highly recognized by the company, government bodies, and civil societies.

Ms. Ly Le holds the Bachelor of Degree in Law, Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) in Corporate Law, Singapore Institute of Management in Contract Negotiation and Management.

Colin McCandless

Area General Manager, IHG Vietnam & Laos

Colin McCandless is the Area General Manager for IHG, Vietnam & Laos based at the InterContinental Saigon Hotel & Residences. IHG is one of the world’s leading hotel companies, whose purpose is to provide True Hospitality for everyone. IHG Vietnam is an accredited AON Best Employer which operates 9 Hotels in Indochina with a strong pipeline of pre-opening Hotels.

Colin has extensive experience working with institutional investors within the Asia Pacific region in key gateway cities over the last 16 years with IHG. The last seven years have been spent in Vietnam with his wife Stacy and two young children. Prior to hospitality Colin was a fully qualified Commercial Pilot and still enjoys flying for relaxation when time and weather permits.

Colin is extremely passionate about development both for self and for his teams. Most recently, he worked with numerous stakeholders to set up a “Mentor, Best Practice and Exposure Program” for Indochina.

Born in Germany, Colin has a diploma in Science from the University of South Australia.

Kevin Moore

Managing Director, Vietnam Waste Solutions

Kevin has been the Managing Director for Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) since 2006. Prior to that he worked as a private consultant for Veolia Environmental Services/Onyx in Hong Kong for 6 years. In the 12 years preceding that, Kevin worked at Waste Management Inc., in California. Previous employment included 7 years at PSE&G in New Jersey. Kevin has previously served on the Vietnam AmCham Board of Governors.

VWS is a subsidiary of California Waste Solutions, a private firm with recycling operations in Oakland and San Jose, California. His position here in HCMC requires direct interaction with HCMC leaders and Departments as well as various Ministries in Hanoi. VWS represents the first privatization of a public service enterprise and one of the larger environmental services investments into Vietnam. This investment project valued at over $150 million is based upon a 50-year contract with the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to effectively manage waste delivered by the City to the Da Phuoc Waste Management Facility. VWS is expanding their services with a new project in Long An province that will move beyond landfilling to waste transformation, developing “waste to energy” and “waste to feedstock” solutions.

Kevin has worked in the waste management and environmental industry for 31 years. Raised in Northern New Jersey and a graduate of Rutgers University.

Minh Nguyen

Country Manager, Vietnam, Aetna International

Minh Nguyen oversees the Vietnam market for Aetna International in Asia Pacific. In this role, she is responsible for managing relations with fronting partner and reinsurance companies, ensuring operational excellence, ensuring that international standards are provided to valued customers, exploring new market segments and overseeing business operations nationwide. An Aetna employee since 2015, she was previously with AIG (American International Group) for nearly a decade. With her broad experience and expertise, Minh is a proven leader and strategic thinker.

Aetna is a Fortune 50 company and one of the five largest health insurers in the United States, providing 46.7 million people with coverage as well as information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their healthcare. CVS is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the U.S, with integrated offerings across the spectrum of pharmacy care, serving 5 million customers served by CVS every day. The recent merger of CVS Health and Aetna will have US$260 billion in annual sales, making it the second largest corporation in the US and the seventh largest corporation in the world by revenue.

Aetna continues to rapidly expand across Asia, most recently by licensing in Hong Kong in 2018 and acquiring Bupa Thailand in 2017, as well as launching its Asian Innovation Hub in Singapore in 2016, which seeks to develop region-specific health solutions tailored for local markets in Asia. Vietnam is the fasting growing insurance market in the world and has one of the fastest growing ultra-high net worth (UHNW) population . We have the ambitious vision to make Vietnam into a market with new and unique health cover options which go ‘broader and deeper’ into the local health care market,bringing high quality and affordable healthcare to many more Vietnamese.

Soren Schouw Pedersen

Vice President, SSA Marine, Seattle USA

I’m a Danish national and have worked in Asia for more than 25 years. I’m today heading up SSA Marine’s regional activities. SSA is an international port operator headquartered in Seattle USA. The company is active in more than 250 locations across 5 continents. SSA’s activities span cruise, bulk and container handling. We employ about 17,000 staff globally.

Here in Vietnam, SSA owns and operates two seaport joint ventures employing about 400 staff. The companies represent investments of around USD 400 million. Our port facilities in Cai Lan (Ha Long) and Cai Mep (Vung Tau) are equipped with the most modern and technically advanced cargo handling machinery available. Both terminals are deep water facilities capable of accommodating the largest cargo and passenger ships.

SSA’s cruise terminals serve 6.6 million passengers annually.

Maritime transport is essential to the world’s economy as over 90 % of the world’s trade is carried by sea (*). Ships need effective port facilities to load and off load cargoes. SSA Marine is among the world’s largest privately held port operators.

Walt Power

CEO, The Grand Ho Tram

Walt Power, the CEO of The Grand Ho Tram, is one of Asia’s longest serving gaming industry executives. Prior to his arrival in Vietnam eight months ago, Walt spent the last 18 years as one of the leaders of Macau’s gaming industry. He was instrumental in the development, opening and operation of the “Sands”, the first western casino in Macau.

A 28-year gaming industry veteran, he has accumulated extensive international experience through executive leadership positions at gaming resorts in the United States, Argentina, South Africa and the Philippines, in addition to his work in Macau.

Mr. Power is a former United States Marine Corps Major and Naval Aviator. During his time in the cockpit, Walt earned the designations of Helicopter Aircraft Commander, Flight Instructor/Evaluator, and Functional Test Pilot. He also served with the first International Peace Keeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon in August 1982, participating in the initial evacuation of non-combatants from that war torn country.

Walt earned his Bachelor Degree and Master Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Walt holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and was a medalist in his age group at the 2014 and 2019 World Master Championships.

Sai Ramana Ponugoti

General Director, P&G Vietnam

Sai Ramana Ponugoti (Sai) leads P&G’s Vietnam operations since 2019, serving Vietnam consumers through leadership brands across all P&G categories: Baby Care, Hair Care, Fabric & Home Care, Skin & Personal Care, Feminine Care, and Oral Care. He works with distributors and retail partners to create value for consumers through defining Commercial strategies, leading Business Operations and building Go-to-market strategies – to ensure joint category growth.

Sai joined P&G in 2001 as an Account Executive in India. In his various leadership roles in P&G, he has got extensive experience in leading diverse businesses across trade channels spanning different consumer goods categories. He has demonstrated expertise on developing markets, having worked across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa markets and by leading P&G’s Global Innovation center for low-income-markets. He also has extensive experience on ‘Shopper-centric retail innovation’ and partnering with retailers to create category value.

He is passionate about making a difference to the lives of consumers in developing markets through P&G brands. A strong advocate for talent development, Sai has worked across diverse cultures through his P&G career and lived in India, Singapore and Switzerland. Before being appointed General Director for P&G Vietnam, Sai was the ‘Sales Head of India-Middle East-Africa’ for Baby Care and a key member of the Regional Business Unit leadership team based in Geneva, Switzerland for the period 2016 – 2019.

Sai graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, and holds an MBA degree in Marketing & Operations from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow.

Sai is married to Swetha and has 2 children: Anshul, 11 years old and Aditi, 7 years old.

Keith Schulz

Executive Vice President, Motul Asia Pacific

Keith Schulz is the General Director of Vilube Corporation, a subsidiary the Motul Group. The company manufactures, markets, and distributes automotive lubricants from its plant in Nha Be for the Vietnamese market and Motul’s markets across Asia. In the past year, Keith launched a new division to produce and sell a range of lubricants for use in metal-working and general industrial equipment under the MotulTech brand.

Previously, Keith served as Senior Portfolio Director for Navis Capital Partners, a buy-out fund focused on SE Asia with $5 billion under management.

Keith led operations as Managing Director at investee-company RPS Technologies, a manufacturer of precision automotive components. Keith’s initiatives opened up the Chinese and EU markets for RPS sales. Earlier, Keith worked for DaimlerChrysler in Detroit and Singapore in several functions. While a procurement manager responsible for SE Asia, Keith developed parts suppliers across across the region in preparation of AFTA initiatives. This included several serving operations at Mercedes-Benz Vietnam.

Keith’s first professional experience in Vietnam was as director of the HCM City office of VATICO, Inc., one of the first US companies to return to Vietnam after 1975. The consulting firm advised clients, including Chrysler, Amway and Hughes Electronics, on on trade and investment issues, pre- and post-normalization.

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