About

As the largest land line and third largest mobile telephone operator in the People’s Republic of China, China Telecom is a truly enormous operation. Among other impressive statistics, the organisation boasts 2015 operating revenue of over $47bn and is listed on both the Hong Kong and New York Stock Exchanges, though the Chinese government retains majority ownership. Zhang Jianbin, deputy general counsel and deputy managing director of the corporate strategy department (legal department), has a large number of responsibilities as part of his day-to-day work. As well as providing legal advice, Zhang is also part of the company’s supervisory committee as the employee representative supervisor which adds a HR element to his legal work. With a total workforce of over 300,000 individuals, Zhang’s role in this regard is a complex and significant one, and highlights how he is willing to take on responsibilities beyond his primary remit. In addition to this, Zhang is an economics expert specialising in telecommunications legislation and contributes to the company’s strategy in this capacity. His telecommunications knowledge is bolstered by his spell as Directorate General of Communications at government communications body Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Keen to combine his legal knowhow with business acumen and theoretical knowledge, Zhang has completed an executive MBA degree in addition to his LLM. Zhang’s vast knowledge of telecommunications affairs, combined with his legal education and business ability, make him stand out in the Chinese corporate counsel community.