Ernest Parker Greer, a Tennessee native, has worked globally from Asia since 1995, while living in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Thailand.  He has led companies in Europe and North America and in 15 countries in the Asia Pacific region.  For years, he was a senior executive with Steelcase Inc., most recently as President, Asia Pacific.  He holds over 40 patents, and lectures at universities and symposiums around the world.  He founded g+, a Hong Kong based consultancy which employs user-focused design methodologies to help clients develop innovation and globalization strategies. 

An astute observer of the impact pricing and currency practices have on economies and the businesses they support, Ernie shares his views on their importance to China’s continued growth.  We cover many topics in this episode: why Trump is regarded as a media star by many Asians; shortcomings of China’s efforts at innovation; how the use of smart phones has reduced interaction between Chinese parents and children; the fraught relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China; how young entrepreneurs need to relate to traditional Chinese business leaders; and proliferation of fake news everywhere. 

Ernie Greer Biography

Ernest Greer has worked globally from Asia since 1995, while living in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Thailand. He has managed companies in Europe and North America, as well as in 15 countries in the Asia Pacific region. From 1986 til 2008, he worked in management positions for Steelcase Inc, including Director of Design, Vice President, Workspace Futures, and President, Asia Pacific. Mr. Greer has started companies in China and India, and managed acquisitions in Japan, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. He has degrees in Business and Psychology from Vanderbilt University and Product and Environmental Design from the Kansas City Art Institute, and holds over 40 patents.  He lectures at universities and symposiums around the world, and has taught in the Masters’ Program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design since 2009. Mr. Greer’s special areas of expertise include strategic design planning, product and brand development, building businesses and teams, and developing alliances. His primary area of focus is innovation in Trans-Pacific growth strategies. 

Mr. Greer founded g+, a Hong Kong based consultancy, in 2008. g+ employs user-focused design methodologies to help clients develop innovation and globalization strategies. Clients’ business sectors include consumer products,  management consulting, office products, financial services, higher education, packaged foods, and material sciences.