Asia Society Northern California Announces New Board Leadership
Asia Society is pleased to announce that long-time Asia Society Northern California (ASNC) Advisory Board member and Chairman Emeritus of Silicon Valley Bank Ken Wilcox has agreed to serve as Co-Chair of the center, joining long-time Co-Chair Jack Wadsworth. He assumes the reins from long-time Co-Chair Chong-Moon Lee, who recently announced his intention to step down.
Ken Wilcox has served as an ASNC advisory board member for ten years, including two years spent in China establishing Silicon Valley Bank’s presence in that country. He is a trustee of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and he has close connections to many of Silicon Valley's most iconic firms.
“I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Asia as well as the US,” said Wilcox, “and I believe that no organization is as well positioned as Asia Society to make a difference in the ongoing relationship between the two continents.”
Asia Society expressed its gratitude to Chong-Moon Lee, who together with Jack Wadsworth created the ASNC advisory board 15 years ago. Under their leadership, the Center's programming and staff have grown exponentially, to include international programs on innovation in Asia, Chinese foreign direct investment in the U.S., and the signature Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative (PCSI), which is preparing for its 4th annual conference later this month, in Jakarta.
As Jack Wadsworth said at the Center’s Annual Dinner last week, “Chong-Moon has been a great partner in building ASNC. He has set the standard in San Francisco, the US and perhaps the world for entrepreneurial success accompanied by a passion for giving back. He is famous for his talk about Asian-American success creating an obligation to give back, as thanks for the opportunity presented by America to all immigrants. Chong-Moon is a visionary and there are two kinds: Dreamers and those won’t take No for an answer and Chong-Moon epitomizes the latter.”
Established in 1998 and headed by Executive Director Bruce Pickering, Asia Society Northern California (ASNC) is uniquely positioned on the edge of the Pacific and at the entrance to Silicon Valley. ASNC connects the San Francisco Bay Area’s diverse local community with a wide network of leaders and visionaries in the fields of policy, business, arts & culture, and sustainability. Through conferences, panel discussions, cultural programs, exclusive dinners, and networking events, ASNC presents timely and relevant forums for educating and engaging the public about the critical issues facing the United States, Asia, and the world.