China Institute of America Appoints Dr. Jin Yu as President

NEW YORK, May 21, 2026 — China Institute of America today announced the appointment of Jin Yu, Ph.D., as President of the organization, marking the beginning of a new journey for the 100-year-old institution dedicated to deepening the world’s understanding of China’s unique history and cultural legacy through programs in arts & culture, education, and business.

Dr. Yu brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in investment, innovation, strategy consulting and organizational transformation across China, Asia, and the United States. Most recently, Dr. Yu was a partner at IDG Capital, co-leading its M&A group. Prior to that, she was the president of Accenture Strategy for Greater China. Before that, she worked for McKinsey & Co. for more than 15 years, serving as global partner and managing partner of McKinsey Beijing Office. She advised Fortune 500 corporations and leading Chinese enterprises in a variety of industries on digital transformation, corporate strategy, and organizational development. Earlier in her career, she worked at Charles River Associates in Los Angeles, providing economic and analytical expertise in business litigation matters.

In 2019, Dr. Yu was named by Forbes among the “Most Outstanding Women Business Leaders in China.” She was also recognized by Chinese Entrepreneur magazine as one of the “Top 30 Most Impactful Women Business Leaders.” She has been a strong advocate for women’s leadership and youth empowerment and previously served on the advisory board of Bright China Foundation. She currently serves on the Division Chair Council of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at the California Institute of Technology where she earned her Ph.D. in Social Sciences.

“As China Institute enters its second century, Dr. Yu brings exceptional global experience together with a deep commitment to cultural understanding and education,” said Yue-Sai Kan, Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of China Institute. “Her leadership comes at an important moment for the Institute and its mission.”

“I’ve known Jin for more than 25 years and no one is better positioned than Jin to lead the Institute on its journey for the next one hundred years,” said George Geh, CEO of China Institute, who will retire later this year.

Speaking about her new role, Dr. Jin Yu said, “As a renowned US nonprofit organization, China Institute is incredibly rich in history. I’m honored to lead this storied institution going into its second century. We are in a world that’s deeply connected yet increasingly divided. I hope China Institute can be a place for people not only to learn about Chinese culture, but also to deepen their understanding of one another through culture.”