James Niu has been working with Octet for the past three years, firstly assisting with the research to
confirm that the Octet concept would be accepted in China, then setting up the infrastructure required
for the new operation and currently overseeing the operations of Octet’s offices in China.
Although he holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the highly regarded Cornell University in the USA,
his professional career has always been directed towards the financial services industry. He initially
worked for American Express as a credit and financial risk manager, then as a senior management
consultant at McKinsey & Company. In 2004 he founded and became Managing Director of Maxwin
Business Consulting, a boutique investment and management consulting firm based in Shanghai.
Mr Niu says, “Octet has converted a great financial service idea into a real business. We have
assembled impressive teams in both China and Australia. As the head of the China operation I am
particularly proud of my team members who are hardworking and intelligent. I believe it is due to their
tireless efforts that we now have two offices in China”.
“Our first office is situated on Nanjing West Street in the heart of the business, fashion and retail
district in Shanghai. This area, which is known locally as Mei Long Zhen, services the Yangtze Delta
area of eastern China, namely Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces. This region accounts for
more than 37% of the Chinese export market.”
“Octet’s second office in China was opened last November and is situated in the Pearl Delta area in
Southern China. Located in the vibrant and modern central business area of Futian District, our
Shenzhen office gives us easy access to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and other areas in the southern part
of China. Currently, we have two resident Business Development Managers operating from this office
to provide better service to our member sellers, as well as to make Octet services available to more
exporters in that area. The business shows no signs of stopping there, particularly with our new
capabilities to enable trilateral trade relations between the United States of America, Australia and
China,” said Mr Niu.