PAN Shiyi

Chairman and Co-Founder, SOHO China

Since founding SOHO China in 1995, Pan Shiyi has led the Company to become China’s largest prime office developer in China with a development portfolio of 5.4 million square meters, boldly introducing iconic landmark architecture to China’s leading cities. Acclaimed for spearheading a new generation of private entrepreneurship in China, SOHO China’s commercial success is largely attributed to Pan Shiyi’s creativity, foresight, and flair for marketing. One of the first proponents of China’s digital revolution, Pan Shiyi was a pioneer in promoting the SOHO brand online. His “weibo”, the Chinese version of twitter, has over 17 million followers. Pan Shiyi’s public influence extends beyond the sphere property development and urbanization, to his constructive and inspiring thoughts and philosophies on matters ranging from the progress of China’s economic development to the air pollution, and broader social issues. Pan Shiyi was born in a rural village in Tianshui in Gansu Province in 1963. Following his graduation from university in 1982, he worked at the former Ministry of Petroleum Industry, until he decided in 1987 to venture to Shenzhen and Hainan to embark upon a career in real estate. Later, in 1992, he co-founded Beijing Vantone Co., Ltd. To many people in China, Pan Shiyi’s life is a modern day success story of a young man who grew up in an impoverished area of Western China and who was able to advance to the forefront of an entire industry by following his dreams, exhibiting strong business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit, and seizing the opportunities made possible by China’s Reform and Opening. Pan Shiyi is deeply involved in philanthropy through the charity organization he co-founded with Zhang Xin, SOHO China Foundation, the mission of which is to advance education as a means for alleviating poverty. In 2014, the SOHO China Foundation launched the SOHO China Scholarships, a USD 100 million initiative supporting financial aid for Chinese students at leading international universities.