Stein to succeed former ambassador Craig Allen, who earlier this year announced plans to step down at the end of 2024
WASHINGTON—September 10, 2024—The US-China Business Council (USCBC), a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of more than 270 American companies that do business in China, today announced the appointment of former US diplomat and longtime US business advocate Sean Stein as its new president. He will join the organization in November, officially succeed Craig Allen as president, and be based at USCBC headquarters in Washington.
“Sean brings with him the policy and business expertise, experience, and gravitas needed to lead the council forward at a time of great complexity in the US-China relationship,” USCBC Board Chair and FedEx Corporation President & CEO Raj Subramaniam said. “On behalf of all USCBC members, I thank Craig for his strong and steady leadership over the last six years and look forward to working with Sean to build upon USCBC’s deep connections and longstanding reputation as the leading voice for US firms doing business in China.”
Stein previously served as the US Consul General in Shanghai and currently serves as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. He is also the co-chair of the China public policy group at Covington & Burling, an American law firm.
“It’s a great privilege to succeed Craig and be able to advocate for US business interests in China before the US and Chinese governments for the US-China Business Council, an organization long admired for its leadership and respected stature in both countries,” Stein said. “I look forward to leading the organization during its next chapter and to help build its legacy and many successes.”
Stein will become USCBC’s seventh president in its 51-year-history, following the retirement of Allen, who was appointed in June 2018. Allen announced plans to retire earlier this year so the board could engage in a thoughtful and comprehensive search process before he departs at the end of this year.
“I will miss our members and excellent staff teams in the US and China, as well as representing our members’ interests before both governments,” Allen said. “I remain committed to USCBC’s mission of expanding the US-China commercial relationship and look forward to new challenges that will enable me to continue to support this work, our members and my USCBC colleagues in the years to come.”
Former USCBC board chair and Thermo Fisher Scientific Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Casper led the work of the search committee, along with support from USCBC’s board officers and board member Heidrick & Struggles, a global executive search firm.
“We are grateful to Craig and for his many accomplishments over the past six years, not only with policy and business impact, but also by growing and leading a high-caliber team of experts both in the US and China,” Casper said. “With the industry-leading executive search support from Heidrick & Struggles, the search committee and I are certain we have found the right next leader in Sean and believe he will be well-served by the strong foundation built by Craig and USCBC’s staff and their predecessors over the last five decades.”
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