Weijian Shan
Weijian Shan is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of PAG, one of Asia’s largest and most successful alternative investment firms, managing over $50 billion in assets across private equity, credit, and real assets. Widely regarded as one of Asia’s most influential financiers, Shan has more than 25 years of experience in private equity and played a pivotal role in shaping the industry across the Asia-Pacific region. Before founding PAG’s private equity business in 2010, he was a Partner at TPG Capital and Co-Managing Partner of TPG Asia (formerly Newbridge Capital), where he led landmark transactions that delivered billions of dollars in investor returns. Earlier in his career, he served as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan and taught as a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond finance, Shan is an accomplished author, best known for his bestselling books Out of the Gobi and Money Games, which combine vivid personal history with deep insights into global markets, private equity, and international finance.
Weijian Shan Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Co-Founder and Executive Chairman
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Co-Managing Partner
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Managing Director and Chief Representative for China
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Assistant Professor
Academic History
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Master of Business Administration
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M.A., Economics
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Ph.D., Economics
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
International Advisory Council, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing
Weijian Shan joined PAG in 2010 to establish and lead its private equity business, which has since become one of the largest and most respected investment platforms in Asia.
Under his leadership, the firm now manages over $50 billion in capital, investing across private equity, credit, and real assets while driving growth throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Shan has cultivated deep relationships across Asia’s financial and corporate sectors and currently serves on the boards of several leading companies, including Alibaba, Lenovo, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Wilmar International, Taiwan Cement, and Baosteel.
EARLY CAREER
Before joining PAG, Shan was a Partner at TPG Capital and Co-Managing Partner of TPG Asia (formerly Newbridge Capital), where he led several landmark deals, including the acquisitions and turnarounds of Korea First Bank and Shenzhen Development Bank, both of which generated billions in profits for investors.
Earlier in his career, he was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, serving concurrently as the firm’s Chief Representative for China.
Shan also began his professional journey in academia as an Assistant Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the World Bank as part of its Young Professionals Program.
MEDIA PRESENCE & PUBLICATIONS
A respected voice in global finance and economic policy, Shan has written commentary for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and Foreign Affairs.
His perspectives on investing and China’s economic transformation have also been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, and Real Vision.
Shan is the acclaimed author of Out of the Gobi and Money Games, which provides unique insights into his life journey and decades of experience in global finance and private equity.