CEO bio - interesting reading!
James Ding, CEO of AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc.
BIOGRAPHIC PROFILE
James Ding (Ding Jian)
CEO of AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc.
AsiaInfo is one of the most successful software and system-integration companies in China, earning US$87 million in 1999. It offers information technology services related to the Internet, servers, and CM&B software products to help Chinese businesses work together. It develops total network solutions for telecom service providers and proprietary software for ISPs, ICPs, and telecom service providers.
The company was responsible for building a large portion of the Chinese Internet?s infrastructure and created ChinaNET, the first national commercial Internet backbone, which is now the primary means of transport for most of China?s Internet traffic.
James Ding founded AsiaInfo Computer Network Co., Ltd. in Texas in 1993, along with Edward Tian (Tian Shuoning), the company?s former president, and other Chinese students then studying in the United States. Despite the fact that it is registered in the United States, Asiainfo has from its inception positioned itself as a China-based IT company.
In 1995, the company moved to China and established itself as a leading Internet solution provider by participating in many of China?s key Internet and telecom network projects.
AsiaInfo helped the Beijing Telecom Administration Bureau to combine and expand the city?s 163.com and 169.com Internet networks. It was also hired by the former Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to construct China?s first national commercial Internet network, ChinaNET. AsiaInfo also built Shanghai Online, the first Internet-based information content service platform in China, which is essentially an extension of ChinaNET. Similarly, AsiaInfo built GuangdongNet. A major portal site, 21cn.com, adopted AsiaInfo?s freemail software solution. Heilongjiang?s Post and Telecommunications Administration adopted AsiaInfo?s billing and customer service software.
In 1998, Fidelity chose Asiainfo as a company with great investment potential.
In late 1999, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) hired AsiaInfo to provide software for a third-party auditing system to help standardize Web site traffic measurement. This was part of the effort of industry leaders to boost Internet advertising and e-commerce in China.
AsiaInfo?s management team - all native Chinese - described themselves as students that studied abroad and came back "to work for China." This image has benefited the company?s relationship with the central government. According to The China Youth Daily, AsiaInfo is the first China-based Internet-related company to receive official approval from the the China Securities Regulatory Commission to list abroad.
After Tian left the company in May 1999 to become the president of China Netcom (CNC), the third largest telecom company in Mainland China (which he said he plans to run like he did AsiaInfo), Mr. Ding as the new CEO began to work with Frank Young, AsiaInfo?s new president. Tian as head of CNC will be well-placed to help Asiainfo expand its role in China?s Internet and telecom construction.
Ding?s leadership is expected to be crucial to AsiaInfo?s success in listing on the NASDAQ.
Background
James Ding pursued graduate studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, obtaining his master?s degree in 1990. He helped found AsiaInfo in 1993, and served as its senior vice president and chief technology officer from 1993 to 1998. From 1997 to 1998 he served concurrently as the vice president for business development. From the start, he has been a member of the board, and became the CEO in May 1999.
UPDATED: 29 February 2000 |
