China

EquitiesFirst Appoints Didier Zheng to Lead Beijing Office, Demonstrates Commitment to China Market

Equities First Holdings (EquitiesFirst), a leader in asset-backed financing, has announced that it has appointed Didier Zheng as Managing Director of the firm’s Beijing office.

The announcement demonstrates the firm’s long-term commitment to the fast-growing Asia region, with the China market being one of the key priorities, the firm said in a press release.

In his new role, Zheng will be part of the team driving origination strategies and exploring business opportunities for EquitiesFirst in China. He will be based in Beijing, joining the Asia leadership team and reporting to Gordon Crosbie-Walsh, CEO of Asia.

Gordon Crosbie-Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, EquitiesFirst, said: “Our innovative ‘Progressive Capital’ solution offers diversification within the traditional credit space. China is one of our strategic priorities in Asia and we are committed to pursuing long-term financing partnerships. We are delighted to welcome Didier to our Greater China team; his appointment confirms our commitment to China and delivering our experience and expertise to serve institutional clients and independent partners.”

Prior to joining EquitiesFirst, Zheng was CEO at Dots Institutional Investors, an institutional investment organisation managing more than USD30 billion in assets. He also served as Deputy General Manager, Investor Relations and Executive Director, Fixed Income at Fosun International. Previously, he worked at international financial institutions including Shenyin & Wanguo Securities, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale. Zheng started his career as a diplomat at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Didier Zheng, Managing Director, Beijing, EquitiesFirst, said: “I am excited to help drive EquitiesFirst’s ambitions for Greater China and introduce our unique financing solutions to partners. We have seen increasing demand from domestic investors for growth and expansion, presenting tremendous opportunities for our firm. Through providing efficient capital that overcomes the limitations of traditional financing, EquitiesFirst is able to serve Chinese partners and deliver liquidity solutions that are vital, transformative and will move them ahead.”