Welcome to Ampersand – Hill & Knowlton's global online publication
Next year at this time, the Olympic games once again will take the world's center stage -- Beijing this time around -- and China will be opened up to anticipation, wonder and scrutiny. This will be an opportunity for millions around the world to see China properly take its place as an international citizen. Cameras, amateur and professional alike, will press aside any reticence and we will witness a vibrant, dynamic and contemporary country, a country proud of its tradition and invention, a country that struggles with its abrupt and vast responsibility in a global community.
There are a number of opportunities and challenges that the world faces with China and China faces with the world. In this Olympics countdown edition, our experts and young professionals living and working in China, capture the issues, energy and excitement of today's China.
In an exclusive interview, we talk to Mr. Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). He is confident that the Beijing Olympics will be a huge success and says the event will provide a unique opportunity for China to showcase its cultural splendor, modern spirit and the united participation of its people.
Liane Fong dives into the world of New China, New Consumers and depicts an increasingly savvy younger generation of consumers with fracturing locations and interests that make it difficult for companies to stay afloat on this rising tide. For the Chinese version of this article, please click here
Glenn Schloss decodes China’s energy dilemma as the country finds itself at the crossroads of its development in Energy Hungry China Grapples with Climate Change - An Opportunity for Clean Technologies?
Alan Liu, one of our youngest contributors, shows how China has indeed stepped up in the social media arena in People’s China, Finally, where he maps out the enormous influence that social media has in the country.
Michael Ip and James Heimowitz explain how Chinese companies are beginning to understand the totality of brand concepts and what it means for the future of brands and consumers in Made in China.
Finally, Tzyy Wang explains why China’s rocky road to combating piracy doesn’t dissuade it from aspiring to become an innovative society.
As always, I would welcome your views,
Paul Taaffe
Chairman and Chief Executive, Hill & Knowlton