Chris Watkins, Country Manager, China Region

Chris Watkins is the China Country Manager for MRI China Group. He is responsible for developing key strategic partnerships across industry sectors with a focus on China. He is tasked to developing long-term partnerships with Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 2000 companies entering or expanding their China and Regional operations.  In addition, Chris is also the Practice Leader for six major industry sectors, including FMCG/Consumer, Hospitality, Retail, Life Science and PR/Marketing Services. Chris also works with Private Equity and Venture Capital Firms to identity and place world-class executives in their invested companies. Chris has been with MRI for the last 10 years.

Prior to joining MRI China Group, Chris was President of Capstone Search Group, a MRI affiliate in the US. Capstone Search Group has been a President’s award winner with MRI and has consistently been in the top 15% of all MRI offices. The firm operated in Consumer, Retail/Wholesale, Industrial and Plastics Sectors. Chris’ expertise was in Retail/Wholesale and Consumer Sectors with a focus on Director to C-Level search.  He primarily served on Fortune 500 Retail and Wholesale organisations particularly in the apparel industry.  During this time he was responsible for placing over 160 executives in the industry.  

Prior to starting his recruiting firm, Chris spent over eight years in the Retail industry with his last position as the Director of Operations of Babies “R” Us, a US$600M division of Toys “R” Us Inc.  Prior to Babies “R” Us, Chris was the Director of Real Estate and Competitive Operations for Baby Superstore, a US$480M retailer in the US.  During his tenure, he was responsible for developing the company’s competitive real estate and operational strategy as it grew from a US$40M private company in 1992 to a US$480M public company in 1996. 

Chris is actively involved in the community by serving as a Board Member for Junior Achievement China and as MRI’s representative to the US China Business Council along with several other non-profit organizations.