Leonard Lee (pictured), formerly vice-president and global head of new business models and services for aviation and aerospace manufacturer Airbus Group, has joined investment firm Silk Ventures as a partner.
Headquartered in the UK with offices in China and the US, Silk Ventures operates as a venture catalyst, providing funding as well as support for cross-border expansion. Its backers include the Chinese government and assorted China-based corporates.
The firm works with startups from series A stage onwards in areas such as cleantech, smart mobility, the internet-of-things, new materials and financial, robotics, medical and life sciences technology.
During his time at Airbus, from January 2017 to April this year, Lee worked on the development of innovative business models across the company’s aviation, helicopter, defence and space divisions.
Lee had previously been with software provider Microsoft for 12 years, initially as regional director of business excellence for the Asia Pacific region, before being promoted to a senior director role in 2007 and then to general manager of corporate quality and business excellence in 2010.
Microsoft hired Lee from industrial technology conglomerate General Electric, where he had spent a total of five years at its GE Money Australia and GE Healthcare Asia subsidiaries.
Lee told Global Corporate Venturing: “After dealing directly with venture capitals over the years through Microsoft and GE, I discovered that it was an exciting industry and that is one of the reasons why I decided to join Silk Ventures.
“I also love the unique opportunity to build the tech bridge to the world’s most exciting market – China.”
– Photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
