About

James McGregor is an American author, journalist, and businessman who has lived in China for three decades. He is chairman of APCO Worldwide, Greater China, where he specializes in advising on business, public policy and communications strategies for multinationals. He is also a professional speaker and a commentator for a variety of print, television and radio outlets.

McGregor is the author of the books No Ancient Wisdom, No Followers: The Challenges of Chinese Authoritarian Capitalism (2012) and One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China (2005). He also wrote the landmark 2010 report China’s Drive for ‘Indigenous Innovation’ – A Web of Industrial Policies.

Early in his career, McGregor was a police reporter in Los Angeles, and a political reporter in Washington D.C. From 1987 to 1990 McGregor served as The Wall Street Journal’s bureau chief in Taiwan, and from 1990 to 1994 as the paper’s bureau chief in Mainland China. From 1994 to 2000, he was chief executive of Dow Jones & Company in China. He subsequently served as China managing partner for GIV Venture Partners, and founder of JL McGregor, a research firm for hedge funds.

McGregor is a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. He continues to be an advisor to AmCham on US-China business and trade politics and policy. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, National Committee on US-China Relations, and the International Council of the Asia Society. McGregor splits his time between Minnesota, Washington DC, Shanghai and Beijing.