Adam Zhu Bio

Adam Zhu is a media producer and business executive known for creating and producing China-related documentaries and public affairs television. He is co-creator and executive producer of the award-winning, multi-season, five-part series “China’s Challenges” I, II and III, broadcast on PBS stations (2014-2019), winning China News Awards (First Prize, 2013, 2018; Second Prize, 2015), Los Angeles Area Emmy Award (2016), and Telly Awards (2017, 2018). He is co-creator and executive producer of “Voices from the Frontlines: China’s War on Poverty” (PBS SoCal), which was nominated for a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award (2020), and won Telly Award (2020) and China Television Academy “Starlight” award (2020).

Zhu is co-creator and executive producer of “Closer to China with R. L. Kuhn” on China Global Television Network (CGTN), a weekly series that features China’s thought leaders and decision makers (2015-2021).  Zhu also produces “The Watcher”, short commentaries on China, and “Xi’s Deep Message”, short commentaries on the activities, trips, speeches, statements and policies of President Xi Jinping (averaging over one million views, including in China).

Zhu is vice chairman of The Kuhn Foundation, which supports science, philosophy, and arts education, and good relationship between the United States and China. For over 30 years, Mr. Zhu has worked with his long-time partner Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn on various China-related matters, including Kuhn’s appearances in major international media. Zhu was the co-creator and “producer” of many of their milestones projects, including The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (Random House 2005. China’s best-selling book of 2005), The Inside Story of China’s 30-Year Reform (Shanghai Century Publishing Group 2009), How China’s Leaders Think (John Wiley, 2009, 2011);

Zhu has executive-produced and produced award-winning feature films and television shows, including Never Give Up (Sirius Film/Stars Light Pictures 2021), Beauty Remains (China Film Group/Shanghai Film Group/Media Asia 2005), Red Capital Wave (CCTV 1999), In Search of China (PBS 2000, WETA), The Korean War (40-episode drama series by the legendary directors Li Qiankuan & Xiao Guiyun, CCTV 2001), China From Inside (BBC 2007), and China Visionaries (SMG 2009).

Zhu is an international investment banker and a private investor. He is chairman of Letz Capital, LLC, a Southern-California-based investment and media company. He was chairman of Greater China and special advisor to the CEO of Bacardi Limited. Prior, Zhu was chairman and CEO of IMG Greater China and vice chairman of IMG Asia Pacific (2011-2015);   managing director of Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (2007-2011), and served as head of Merrill Lynch’s Beijing Representative Office. Prior, he worked in senior positions in the investment banking division at Citigroup.

Zhu is chairman of Beijing Vive Sports & Entertainment Limited; Beijing Letz Wine & Spirits Limited; and vice chairman of the Board of Supervision of China Technology Innovation Corporation. He served as Chairman of Visual China Group (a.k.a. Getty Images China. Shenzhen Stock Exchange: SZ000681), and board member of China Football Association Professional League Council.

Zhu received a BA in English Literature, Xiangtan University; MA in Applied Linguistics, Harbin Institute of Technology; and an MBA from Temple University.