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Wei ChristiansonCEO and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Financial Corporation in Asia
Date of Birth: 21.08.1956
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Wei Christianson, born Wei Song Christianson on August 21, 1956, is a Chinese-American who made significant strides in the financial industry. As the first mainland Chinese student in the United States during the 1980s, Christianson pursued her education at Amherst College, graduating in 1985 with honors in political science. Her educational journey continued at Columbia Law School, where she earned her J.D. in international law with distinction in 1989.
Legal and Investment Banking Career
After practicing law at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in New York, Christianson relocated to Hong Kong and worked as an assistant director at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Her contributions to developing regulations for Chinese companies to list outside of China laid the foundation for her successful investment banking career. She joined Morgan Stanley as an executive director and managing director in Beijing and later became the head of the firm's Natural Resources, Energy, and Transportation Group.
Christianson then moved to Citigroup as a managing director and chairman of Citigroup Global Markets Asia Ltd., overseeing equities and investment banking in China. She also served as a managing director, chairman, and regional head at Credit Suisse First Boston.
Throughout her banking career, Christianson led prominent initial public offerings (IPOs) for entities such as Sinopec, China Life, and SMIC. She also played a significant role in CNPC's $4.2 billion acquisition of Gas Khazakstan, which marked the largest cross-border M&A transaction in China at the time.
Awards and Recognition
Christianson's achievements have been widely recognized. She received the Wall Street Journal's "Women to Watch" Award in 2006, 2007, and 2008. American Banker and U.S. Banker named her among the "Top 25 Women to Watch (Outside of Banking)" in 2007 and 2008. Additionally, she was included in the Financial Times' "Influential Women to Watch" list in 2010 and 2011.
Christianson's contributions to the Chinese community have also earned accolades. She received the Asian American Business Development Center's Pinnacle Award as one of the "50 Leading Asian Americans in Business" in 2009. The Museum of Chinese in America presented her with the "Legacy Award" in 2008, and she was the recipient of the China Women's Achievement Award from the All-China Women's Federation and Sun Media Group.
Personal Life
Christianson is married to John Christianson, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. They have three sons: Eric, Neil, and Nicholas. They reside in Beijing and own a 790-square-meter house in Idaho's Sawtooth Valley.
