Poh Yian Koh, FedEx China
Campaign Statement
My name is Poh Yian Koh, and I am running for governor on the AmCham Board of Governors, and I humbly ask for your vote.
Living and working in China for over 30 years, I have had an incredible journey starting up the FedEx logistics business in China and partnering with local and international business communities. As a committed member of AmCham, I have a long history of involvement at various levels (medical supplies delivery to Wuhan, leadership training, logistics seminars, and more) of the Chamber.
The post-pandemic business and political environment is extremely complicated and erratic, and the regulatory framework in China moves at an increasingly quick pace (new regulations impacting the environment, cybersecurity, taxation, to name just a few). The role of AmCham in representing our business community, keeping communication channels open, advocating for our position, and supporting member companies in practical ways is increasingly important as it has ever been. FedEx and the American business community have an obligation to lean into our engagement in China and the United States to shape the relationship and deliver on the promise of connecting people of both countries with the possibilities of much closer partnership.
So much has changed since the COVID pandemic, but I think the important success factors remain the same: a deep commitment to the market and strong relationships have ultimately led us to success. That has been true for me – whether working with government authorities, building our aviation hubs in Guangzhou and Shanghai, transforming our transportation network with more than 90 stations across the country, or overcoming regulatory challenges.
At AmCham, I see that same spirit of dedication and partnership that is essential to success. My focus will be to bring clarity to the positions of the Chamber and ensure that we articulate the needs of our members to the authorities in the U.S. and China in a pragmatic and constructive way. I am also keen on understanding and prioritizing the needs of our members on the ground in China, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on AmCham for support. This encompasses support for training, regulatory advice, social responsibilities, and reassurance to strengthen China’s effort to attract foreign investment.
With FedEx’s rich history of operating in China and experience advocating for a stronger and deeper bilateral relationship in Beijing and Washington, I am excited about what we can achieve through the AmCham China platform. I am committed to dedicating my time and effort to benefit the communities in China where we operate.
Your vote is much appreciated!
Biography
Operating with the highest ethical standards ensures mutually rewarding relationships among employees, partners, and suppliers and is the foundation for superior service to our customers.
As President of China and Senior Vice President of FedEx, Poh-Yian Koh oversees the operations of FedEx in this vital market. As a key strategic decision-maker for the company, Poh-Yian Koh is dedicated not only to driving the company’s business growth and market expansion in China but also to maintaining close collaborations with government entities, clients, and partners. Her leadership is pivotal in advancing FedEx’s strategic goals in China, ensuring sustained success and fostering long-term development and a positive corporate image in this crucial market.
Ms. Koh started her career at FedEx in Singapore. In 1994, she moved to China and led the company’s efforts to explore the market, shape customs procedures, and support many of the FedEx strategic projects (i.e., Pudong and Guangzhou Hub), network, and service expansion in the country. During her 34 years with FedEx, she has developed an impressive breadth of experience from her directorship roles in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Her contributions to laying the foundation for FedEx’s continued growth in China and Asia Pacific have been recognized with several awards, including two-time IT Hall of Fame Awards and the most prestigious 5-star Award at FedEx, of which she has been awarded nine times.
Ms. Koh is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and empowering women not only at FedEx, but also in the Chinese business community. She headed the disability pillar, called the Sunflower Project, which aims to create an inclusive and positive environment to enable individuals with disabilities to thrive for excellence with their skills and abilities.
She also led the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions in advancing sustainability to achieve FedEx’s carbon-neutral goal by 2040.
She holds an Industrial Engineering Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio State University and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, in conjunction with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.