The SKEMA Alumni Club in Beijing get together at Swallow, founded by Chuck Yang (SK 2005)

On 26 July 2019, SKEMA Alumni Beijing held its second event of 2019. Some twenty alumni got together at Swallow, a restaurant run by Chuck Yang, who graduated from SKEMA in 2005. The event was an opportunity to chat and to connect with graduates from different years in a friendly atmosphere while enjoying a pleasant Western meal and tasting New World wines.

The evening ended with a final drink on the rooftop terrace to discover a breathtaking view of the Guomao area. The beating heart of the Chinese capital, Guomao is home to the head offices of many companies from around the world, giving Beijing, a megalopolis with over 22 million inhabitants, its international dimension.

We interviewed Chuck for you!

SKEMA Alumni: Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Chuck Yang:  JI arrived in France in 2002 and completed a degree in Mathematics in Lille. I then went on to pursue an MSc in Project Management at SKEMA Business School between 2004 and 2005. This enabled me to learn the essential tools of project management and develop my managerial skills. Today, I have founded V&C Network Technology, a company that sells wine, beer and spirits. It’s been #1 since 2013 on JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce company. The company is structured around several markets: e-commerce (Tmall, Suning, Xiaomi, etc.), off trade & on trade.

How did you build your business?

I started my adventure in 2008, so it’s been more than 11 years! I started out on my own, with just one distribution channel.  Today I have 60 employees, a 2,500 m2 warehouse, over 1,000 SKU, and the turnover for this year is currently at 180 million RMB (23 million euros).

Tell us about professional relationships and networking in China.

Relationships with the government, customers and suppliers are very important. I met a SKEMA alumnus who is currently working for a merchant in Hong Kong. Without even knowing each other, we already trust each other because we come from the same school, the same network!

Did your experience in France play a decisive role in your business?

Yes, especially in my line of business! I work with many French companies and the fact that I know the culture and the language helps me daily. From the very first time I met with GCF (Les Grands Chais de France), a global company in the wine & spirits sector, we hit it off right away and we are about to become the operator of the JP CHENET flagship, a French wine produced since 1984 by Les Grands Chais de France whose distinguishing feature is its bottle’s slanted neck. It is available from JD.com.

Contact Chuck Yang / chuck.yang@wines-boutique.com

Big thanks to Chuck and our four SKEMA Alumni ambassadors based in Beijing!

See you in October for the next SKEMA Alumni Club Beijing event! Click here to join the club