Technomic Asia’s staff comprises a powerful mix of experience, ethnicity and Asian knowledge, collectively providing a unique hybrid of insight and perspective from both Western and local Asian points of view:

• Senior leadership averaging over 15 years of Asian business experience
• Strong educational background from leading schools in Asia and the West
• Both consulting and practical industry work experience in diverse sectors
• Ethnic root from China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the US

The Principals

Steven H. Ganster, Managing Director
B.A., Economics and English Literature, Vassar College
M.B.A., Thunderbird - American Graduate School of International Management

As a founder of Technomic Asia, Steve has extensive experience across multiple industries and geographies through over 25 years of international consulting. He has completed over 550 assignments for many of the world's leading companies, assisting clients in international market entry and strategy development throughout Asia and China since the early 1980s. He has broad industry experience through his many years of consulting. Steve has established offices across Asia and has practical background in partner assessment, alternative structural formats and organic business development. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to business development and growth in Asia. Steve has a working knowledge of Japanese.

Steve Crandall, General Manager for Technomic Asia China Operations
B.S. & B.A. in Marketing, Ohio State University
MBA, International Finance, California State University

Steve has nearly 20 years consulting and business strategy experience in China. He has first hand experience creating companies leading start-ups in automotive, chemical, and building materials. Steve also created sales and account management teams for Parker Hannifin, Ernst & Young, and Ford Motor Company.

Steve also has an impressive background on the technical side having led two companies to ISO 9001 and 14000 certifications. His attention to details was honed starting a consulting practice for PRI, a boutique PE/consulting firm in Beijing and his fluency in China which he has spoken for 25 years.

Michael Zakkour, Principal, Marketing and Business Development
B.S. Marketing and Communications, Seton Hall

Michael has a keen perspective on assessing business opportunities in China. He has assisted more than 200 multinational and SME companies with China market entry analysis and implementation as well as manufacturing sourcing and supply-chain projects in China. Michael’s previous assignments required detailed work in the following areas; introduction of consumer products and professional services into the China market, identification and qualification of suppliers, executing sourcing programs, and supply-chain, marketing and distribution initiatives in China.

His extensive, hands-on dealings in China during the last decade have led Mr. Zakkour to be widely consulted by businesses, universities, and media on such topics as Chinese business and investment opportunities; the ever-changing nature of China–U.S. trade and political relations; cross-cultural negotiation; manufacturing/sourcing/supply chain management; marketing, sales, and distribution in the Chinese market; apparel production and sales and green/sustainable growth initiatives. He is also regularly called upon as a speaker and lecturer, and has presented before bodies as august and diverse as the New York Bar Association’s Asian Affairs Committee, Thompson-Reuters’ annual China Conference, Columbia Business School and the Wharton School of Business China Conference. Additionally, Mr. Zakkour serves on the board of directors of the Asian Financial Society.