MAYOR LEE ANNOUNCES NEW CHINASF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MAYOR LEE ANNOUNCES NEW CHINASF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Darlene Chiu Bryant to Lead Office & Focus on Continued Growth of Cross National Investment with China
San Francisco, CA—Today on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined the Board of ChinaSF to announce Darlene Chiu Bryant as the new Executive Director of ChinaSF. A San Francisco native, Bryant brings a decade of work experience in Hong Kong and in the public and private sectors to an office that will increase economic development and job creation in San Francisco through strategic investments from China and the overseas promotion of San Francisco businesses.
“Darlene has the skillset and experience we have been looking for to lead ChinaSF,” said Mayor Lee. “Expanding international trade is a centerpiece of my jobs plan, and I am confident that under Darlene’s leadership, ChinaSF will continue to drive job creation and spur new business growth in our City.”
“The San Francisco Center for Economic Development is happy to have such a strong Director in this important role to promote and engage cross cultural business relations,” said San Francisco Center for Economic Development Executive Director Dennis Congahan.
Bryant brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sector, working not only in San Francisco, but also in Hong Kong, where she developed strong ties to China. Most recently as Vice President and Public Affairs Manager at East West Bank after leaving Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) as External Communications Manager, Bryant has served as Commissioner on the City’s Small Business Commission from 2008-2010, and was Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Chief Deputy Communications Director during his first term as Mayor. She accompanied Mayor Newsom on his first trip to China in 2005.
About ChinaSF
Established in 2008, ChinaSF, a partnership of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and San Francisco Center for Economic Development, provides support to enable and increase business exchange between China and the City of San Francisco. Over the last 3 years, ChinaSF has successfully helped more than 13 Chinese firms establish their U.S. presence in the San Francisco Bay Area.