Li Jian, managing director (MD), Shandong Heavy Industry Private Limited, has been working in India for nearly a decade. He started his career in the finance division of WEICHAI, part of the Shandong Heavy Industry Group (SHIG), in Weifang, China and thereafter moved to handling its overseas business, with short stints in Vietnam and Bangladesh.
As MD of SHIG India, Jian is entrusted with the challenging task of managing and expanding operations in the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, besides India. The company’s product portfolio includes diesel and gas engines, trucks and buses, vehicle aggregates, drivetrain systems, axles, gearboxes, heavy duty mining trucks, earthmoving and construction equipment, hydraulics and logistics.
Equipped with a management degree, Jian has extensive experience of over 15 years in the fields of finance, marketing, general management, corporate governance, company law, strategic issues, corporate and financial structuring, resource mobilisation, acquisition and disinvestments.
Jian expects the demand for diesel and gas gensets to continue to grow. He says, “Although there are a number of projects on the anvil to narrow the power deficit, I reckon that the demand for diesel gensets will continue, considering specific industry sectors such as hospitality, hospitals, educational institutions and industries, which cannot afford to have power outages.”
According to Jian, one of the most memorable periods of his career was the time when he was involved in promoting marine engines. “I travelled extensively along the coastline, interacted with fisher-folk, marine boat-owners, and commercial marine customers. We now have a 50 per cent market share in the marine sector, wherein customers preferring our rugged, reliable engines that need to operate round-the-clock for almost a fortnight without stopping.”
In his spare time, Jian likes travelling, meeting business partners and customers, and building meaningful relationships with them. He has enjoyed travelling within India but wants to explore the country further. “I enjoy its rich culture and heritage,” he remarks. And, of course, the food. “I relish Indian cuisine, especially the parathas, nans and biryani.” He also enjoys playing basketball. “It allows me to burn a few calories,” he quips.