Our team

When you partner with Eastern Bridge, you gain access to a robust and proficient team, dedicated to achieving your goals.

Our Team

Our leadership team

Simon Appleton

CEO
Joined: 2014
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Simon founded Eastern Bridge in 2014 after seeing the disconnect between local government's ambitions to be internationally engaged and their ability to do so in an efficent and cost affective manner. Simon has a Masters in Chinese Law and speaks Mandarin and Korea. He has worked in the media, education and local government sectors.

Wenhua Yang

Director of International Education
Joined: 2023
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Originally from Shanghai, Wenhua has spent over 20 years involved in international education. Wenhua has worked at the Ministy of Education and more recently ran Learning Hawke's Bay, the region's international education promotion body. Wenhua works for Eastern Bridge, developing partnerships between New Zelaand and international educational institutions.

Lewis O'Donnell

Director of International Trade
Joined: 2022
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Lewis runs Eastern Bridge Trade, our importing and exporting business. Lewis has a background in marketing and realestate.

Cole Atkinson

Director of Digital Services
Joined: 2017
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Cole has spent over a decade as a software developer and coder. He is the project lead of Hongi and responsible for Eastern Bridge's digital infrastructre.

Ada Wang

Investments
Joined: 2022
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Ada has practiced law for 20 years, with long term practicing and researching in the fields of Company Law on Cooperation, Investment and M&A, Intellectual Property Law as well as International Trade and Commerce.

Peter Guy

Adviser
Joined: 2015
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Peter is a long time adviser to Eastern Bridge. With over 20 years experiance in China, Peter brings a wealth of knowelge about working in Asia to the company.