Hui Zhang is pursuing an ambitious goal: as Vice President of the European division of the Chinese start-up Nio, based in the car manufacturing city of Munich, in the direct vicinity of the traditional BMW brand, he wants to conquer the European market.
He was able to gain intercultural experience for this venture during his studies in Beijing, Utah and Pforzheim, where he completed his MBA in International Management in 2002. Following his MBA, he embarked on a career path between China and Europe, which led him to Nio in 2016 via responsible positions in various corporate divisions such as Purchasing, Sales and Supply Chain Management at Voith AG, Kiekert AG, Lotus and Leoni AG. He currently runs the headquarters in Munich together with locations in seven European countries, including Oxford, Berlin and Hungary. The global start-up for premium e-cars Nio entered the European market in October 2021, starting with Norway. Together with his team, Hui Zhang develops electric vehicles and adapts them to the needs of German consumers. In doing so, he benefits from his professional background, combined with an extensive network in both Germany and China. As Vice President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany, Hui Zhang has also taken on the role of "bridge builder" at the interface between the two very different markets.
As a passionate networker, Hui Zhang regularly welcomes students from 'his' MBA when they are on field trips to Munich to get to know various companies there. Navigating through the evening traffic of the Bavarian capital in a Nio-E-Car is of course an unforgettable experience for the international group of students. The excursion participants are always very impressed by Hui Zhang's warm and welcoming manner in which he introduces them to the company, its products, future visions and potential career opportunities. 'It is always very rewarding for us and our students to meet him and learn from him,' reports Professor Dr. Harald Strotmann, MBA program director and Vice Dean of the Business School, 'we really appreciate how he always takes the time to be there for our students personally, despite his busy schedule.'
Hui Zhang still vividly remembers his own start at the Business School Pforzheim over 20 years ago: It was definitely a 'culture shock' for him to swap the vibrant metropolis of Beijing with its thousands of years of history for – in comparison – the more manageable, plain Pforzheim on the edge of the northern Black Forest. However, he soon recognized the advantages that studying in Pforzheim had to offer: looking back, he still emphasizes the 'ideal combination of theory and practice' of the MBA program, which included a wide range of contact opportunities with companies in various industries in Baden-Wuerttemberg and throughout Germany.
For Hui Zhang, the MBA in Pforzheim was the starting signal for a successful international career and he wishes today's students that they take advantage of the opportunities that the program opens up for them

text: Business School Pforzheim
photos: Nio, MBA, Business School