Jack Wadsworth Fellows Program

Asia Society’s Jack Wadsworth Fellows Program is designed to strengthen the Society's pre-eminent role in business programming across the Society's global network of 11 centers. The program honors Jack Wadsworth, a pioneer in developing a leadership role for American business in Asia.

Almost 60 years ago, Asia Society's founder John D. Rockefeller 3rd recognized the potential of the U.S.-Asia relationship and the likelihood that Asia would be increasingly important economically in the world. Today, this relationship is critical given Asia's growing economic and financial power and the inextricably linked trade patterns between the U.S. and Asia.

Asia Society has a long history of business programming. At the center of this was the annual Asian Corporate Conference, which for 20 years created links between Asia Society's extensive network of experts, U.S. and Asian business, and key government officials from both hemispheres. With U.S. multinational companies already established in Asia and Asian companies going global in greater numbers, Asia Society is shifting its business programming to smaller conferences focused on specific areas or issues.

The Jack Wadsworth Fellows Program is designed to help meet this need, by providing provide financial support to a distinguished journalist, scholar, or practitioner with experience in Asia to spend six to nine months at one or more of Asia Society's Centers.

ASPI is not accepting applications and nominations for the Jack Wadsworth Fellows program at this time. If you have questions about the program, please email them to Anubhav Gupta at policyinstitute@asiasociety.org with the subject line “Jack Wadsworth Fellows Program.”

About Jack Wadsworth

John S. (Jack) Wadsworth, Jr. is currently an Advisory Director of Morgan Stanley and Honorary Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia. He began his career at the First Boston Corporation in New York City in 1963 and in 1978 became a member of the investment banking team at Morgan Stanley. He initiated the high tech banking practice, started the venture capital business and helped organized the leverage buyout business. In 1986, Jack led the effort to obtain a seat on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Over five years in Japan, he built the firm's business from a small base to over 500 people and profitability. In 1991, he moved to Hong Kong as Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia and proceeded to expand the firm's business in rest of the Asia. When he retired in 2001, the firm had over 2000 people, 11 offices and over a billion dollars in revenue in Asia. In addition, the firm had a healthy private equity activity based in Hong Kong and had created two joint venture investment banks one in China and one in India.