Former Sealed Air president joins IDC in Shanghai

NEW YORK - International Dispensing Corporation (IDC) (IDND), a packaging research and development company for the food and beverage industry, is set to expand its business in China in 2014. In preparation, the company has placed Li Xin, former Seal Air China president, in its Industry Advisory Board. He joins Bill Hickey (former CEO of Sealed Air), Markus Brettschneider (CEO FrieslandCampina Germany), and Aaron Brody, Ph.D. (Packaging Strategies “Packaging Guru of the Century”).

Based in Shanghai, China, Mr Li will also oversee and develop IDC’s business in the region with both existing and new customers.

A Chinese national experienced in market entry strategy, sales and profit growth, food safety, and sustainability, Li Xin has been based in Shanghai since 2004 with Sealed Air Corporation. During his tenure, he managed the Cryovac food packaging business units for the Asia region and built a large greenfield investment in Shanghai before becoming president of Sealed Air China. For 13 years prior to his China assignment, he held sales, marketing, and sales management responsibilities for Sealed Air in the US and Canada.

“With a China presence about to become very important for us, IDC is fortunate to have an executive of Li Xin’s calibre driving our business in the region,” said Greg Abbott, IDC’s Chairman and CEO. “Li is a proven winner with a solid track record of accomplishment both in Asia and the West. Our customers know and respect him at the highest levels. We are confident that Li’s experience, reputation, and local presence will significantly facilitate IDC’s business development in China.”

“I have great respect for IDC’s management and its vision, and believe that its technologies are big ideas,” said Li Xin. “The Answer? tap is an ideal innovation for China and other Asian countries that lack refrigeration infrastructure. The IDC/Cryovac SpeedFlex? filler provides another significant competitive advantage.

Together they represent a major advance in being able to deliver low-cost, low-environmental-impact foodservice packaging. I am excited about being a part of IDC’s team and about all that we can accomplish in the region.”

Mr Li has been active with food and beverage organisations in China and serves as executive director of the China Meat Association and vice chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Food, Agriculture & Beverage Committee. He attended Shandng University in China, has a BA in Economics from the University of Regina in Canada and an MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.