McKinsey China Chief Cautions Companies Against Hiding Chinese Origins
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(Davos, Switzerland) — Chinese companies that try to obscure their national origins to navigate an increasingly fractured geopolitical landscape are pursuing a “short-sighted” strategy unlikely to succeed over the long term, according to McKinsey & Co.’s Greater China chairman.
Speaking to Caixin on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Joe Ngai said some Chinese firms have tried to “strip their identity” or dilute their Chinese background — by changing registration jurisdictions or minimizing visible links to China — in an effort to mitigate geopolitical risks. Such tactics, he warned, are often unsustainable.
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- McKinsey’s Joe Ngai warns that Chinese firms hiding their origins to avoid geopolitical risks is short-sighted and unsustainable.
- He recommends forming local joint ventures and adapting to local business environments rather than exporting “cutthroat” practices or focusing solely on cost competition.
- Ngai urges Chinese companies to act as “global corporate citizens” by integrating into local communities, respecting rules, and building positive local relationships.
- McKinsey & Co.
- McKinsey & Co. is represented in this article by Joe Ngai, its Greater China chairman. Ngai expressed concerns that Chinese companies trying to hide their origins abroad are pursuing a "short-sighted" strategy. He advises Chinese firms to become "global corporate citizens" by partnering locally and adapting to local rules, rather than exporting China's "excessive competition" culture.
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