Professional Profile

Prof. Yao Xi (Walter), with more than 20 years of extensive experience spanning finance, auditing, risk management and corporate governance, has held progressively senior positions across multiple industries. Most recently, from July 2022 to June 2025, he served as an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Bank – Wealth Management in Hong Kong, specializing in advising ultra-high-net-worth families and institutions on cross-border wealth management solutions. Prior to this, from April 2021 to June 2022, he was Chief Financial Officer at Shenzhen Jetlink Technology Co., Ltd. (深圳市杰睿联科技有限公司), a Qualcomm and OPPO-backed company specializing in eSIM technology, where he oversaw all financial operations and led the Company's accounting, finance, human resources and investor relations functions. During his tenure at Haier Group from June 2017 to March 2021, Prof. Yao held several key positions including Director of Global Derivative Markets, where he managed the Group's derivative investments; Principal at the Global Risk Management and Research Centre, overseeing financial controls and risk frameworks; and concurrently served as CEO and Responsible Officer of HAI Smart Alpha Limited, an asset management subsidiary, where he directed trading strategies and ensured regulatory compliance. Earlier in his career, Prof. Yao spent eleven years at Ernst & Young in Singapore and Beijing, ultimately serving as Executive Director and leading over 100 professional engagements in auditing, IPO compliance and risk management. His career began at Sun Life-Everbright Insurance in Beijing from April 2002 to December 2005, where as a supervisor, he managed risk assessment and underwriting operations.

Academic Background

Prof. Yao holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from PolyU. Since 2021, he has served as a Visiting Lecturer in the School of Accounting and Finance at PolyU, teaching Corporate Risk Management to master’s degree students. His academic achievements reflect a strong foundation in both technical and business disciplines, culminating in advanced expertise in corporate leadership and governance.