The name Aston Martin has long enjoyed almost mythical status among motoring cognoscenti, and the association between Aston Martin and the James Bond film franchise has only enhanced that in many parts of the world. “To me, Aston Martin is not really part of the car industry. I would say it’s more a part of the luxury industry,” Nancy Chen, General Manager at Aston Martin Lagonda (South and South-East Asia), tells The CEO Magazine. “I’ve always had this thing for luxury businesses – it’s a special interest to me, especially at Aston Martin.”
Nancy has a bond with the company that goes back to her days as an MBA student. She gained a BSc degree in the US and ran her own printing company for about three years. While pursuing an MBA at Oxford she accepted an internship at Aston Martin Lagonda’s Gaydon headquarters and hasn’t looked back in the 11 years since.
But the name Aston Martin is not as ubiquitous as many think it is. A year after joining the company, Nancy was approached to take the marque to China, to introduce it to a new market and establish its presence. She jumped at the chance.
“Having studied and worked in the US, I felt that I could be a very good bridge between the Western and Eastern business worlds to help Aston Martin explore business opportunities in China. I moved to China and was there for about four years to support the set-up of the whole network. It was certainly a very challenging role, and at the same time very fulfilling,” she recalls.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine Asia.
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This story is from the July 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine Asia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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