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Founders

Two founders based in Shanghai with complementary strengths across law, commercial growth, and brand building.

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Axel Kruse

Co-Founder, The Network
Principal, Griffin Business Consulting

Axel is a German executive and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of leadership experience in China. Based in China since 2002, he has built deep expertise in consumer goods, brand development, sales, business development, and omnichannel retail. He has held senior leadership roles at Metro Cash & Carry China, C&A China, Groupe Beaumanoir, Adidas Group China, Global Brands Group China, ATG Brands Management, and Asambeauty, where he led large commercial organizations and supported the growth of international brands in the Chinese market.

Today, Axel is the founder of Griffin (Shanghai) Business Consulting Co., Ltd., advising international brands, brand management companies, and consumer goods businesses on China market entry and expansion.

 

Focus areas:

  • Licensing, market entry, and go to market execution

  • Omni channel growth, retail operations, P&L leadership

  • Partner sourcing, deal shaping, commercial validation

  • Cross cultural leadership and operating rhythm

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Zenon Pagliero

Co-Founder, The Network
Marketing Manager, LEUCHTTURM1917 (Shanghai)

Zenon is a Shanghai based marketing and brand growth professional with a multicultural background across China, Asia, and Europe. He builds growth channels in China through partnerships, corporate gifting, retail development, and co branding initiatives, combining business development with hands on marketing execution. Fluent in Mandarin, English, and German, he bridges cultures and translates brand positioning into local relevance without losing global standards. At The Network, Zenon runs event experience and community engagement, ensuring consistency, quality, and long term member retention.


Focus areas:

  • Brand growth in China, partnerships, co branding, events

  • Content localisation and cross functional execution

  • Community experience, retention, and member touchpoints

  • Cross cultural communication in China contexts

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Stefan Woditsch

Board Member and Advisor

Stefan is a Shanghai-based senior business executive with deep experience across Greater China and Southeast Asia. He helps European companies enter Asia and Asian companies expand into Europe and Latin America — specializing in market entry, supply chain, commercial growth and operational set-up across sectors. Fluent in six languages and with deep cultural roots in Asia, Stefan bridges Western corporate governance with Asian market realities. At The Network, Stefan supports member engagement and contributes his cross-border expertise to help members solve operational challenges in China and beyond.


Focus areas:

  • Advisory on complex cross-border business situations

  • Supply chain and distribution set-up in Asia and beyond

  • Turning around underperforming market entries

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