Leadership CHRIS LEE

Chris Lee (李希烈) is Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic Asia Pacific (APAC). Chris joined Medtronic in 2012 as president of the Greater China region. Under his leadership, the region achieved five consecutive years of double-digit growth by bringing meaningful innovation and expanding access to more patients in China.

Chris has a strong track record of global leadership in the healthcare industry — both in pharmaceutical and medical technology. He is known for his inclusive leadership style, commitment to meritocracy, and proven business success. During his time in China, Chris developed strategic partnerships with the Chinese government and was a strong supporter of corporate social responsibility —  leading the company’s effective relief efforts to respond to the Lushan earthquake in Sichuan Province.

Prior to Medtronic, Chris was Regional Head and Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific at Bayer HealthCare where he was responsible for overall operations in the region, including pharmaceuticals, consumer over the counter, animal health, and medical devices. Chris has also held roles of increasing responsibility in a number of multinational companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck Sharpe and Dohme, while based in Asia Pacific and the U.S., respectively.

Chris is a pioneer in the management of workplace happiness and is the author of two best-selling books, one on emotional management and one on marketing. He was also formerly an executive director in the pharmaceutical industry associations of China (RDPAC), Australia (Medicines Australia), and Korea (Korea Pharma).

Chris serves on the board of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed).

Chris holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson and a master’s degree from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). He is fluent in English and Korean, with a good understanding of Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.