Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink is a Partner at The Asia Group, where he brings decades of diplomatic expertise and strategic insight into U.S. engagement across the Indo-Pacific. As a career Foreign Service Officer, he has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policy toward China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and regional security dynamics, while also advocating on behalf of U.S. businesses.

Before joining The Asia Group, Ambassador Kritenbrink served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2021–2025), where he led U.S. diplomatic efforts across a region critical to global stability and economic growth. He played a key role in strengthening U.S. alliances with Japan and South Korea, expanding security and economic cooperation with partners across Southeast Asia, and managing strategic competition with China. His tenure was marked by initiatives to strengthen relations with U.S. allies and partners, bolster maritime security, counter economic coercion, and advance regional prosperity through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Prior to this role, Ambassador Kritenbrink was U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam (2017–2021), where he deepened the U.S.-Vietnam partnership, enhanced economic and security cooperation, and promoted reconciliation and people-to-people ties. His tenure saw historic milestones, including the first U.S. aircraft carrier visit to Vietnam since the Vietnam War, a strengthened bilateral trade relationship, and expanded educational and people-to-people exchanges.

As Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council (2015–2017), Ambassador Kritenbrink coordinated U.S. foreign policy and White House engagements with critical counterparts across the entire region. From 2013 to 2015, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where he was a key player in managing the U.S.-China relationship at a time of rising geopolitical tensions. He played a critical role in high-level diplomatic negotiations, economic dialogues, and crisis management efforts, including maritime disputes and cybersecurity concerns.

Ambassador Kritenbrink’s diplomatic career spans three decades, with previous assignments in Japan, China, Kuwait, and Washington, D.C. He previously served as Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, where he navigated complex trade and security issues, and as Chief of the Political Section’s Internal Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, providing deep analytical insight into China’s political landscape.

A Nebraska native, Ambassador Kritenbrink holds a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and an M.A. from the University of Virginia. He speaks both Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. He and his wife, Nami, have two children.

Michael Hart is President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China based in Beijing. He has over twenty-five years of business experience in Asia, including nineteen years in mainland China.

As President, Michael oversees all advocacy, programs, partnerships, and insights provided by the Chamber to support the business growth of nearly 900 foreign corporations operating in China, including most of the U.S. Fortune 500. The chamber’s advocacy includes the impressive American Business in China White Paper and Business Climate Survey each published annually as well as numerous interactions with both the US and Chinese governments on behalf of our members.

Prior to joining AmCham China, Michael spent most of his career in commercial real estate in Taipei, Shanghai and Tianjin including almost 20 years for a NYSE listed property services firm. He started in the research division briefing real estate owners, occupiers and investors on transactions and macro trends, he then opened, built, and led a branch office for the company in one of China’s largest Tier 1.5 cities for over a decade. Following this, Michael opened a private consulting and investment firm that among other projects invested in quick service restaurants.

In addition to this work, Michael was a long-term AmCham member and served on the Tianjin chapter’s Executive Committee for nearly 15 years including several terms as the local Chairman.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on finance and banking from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the U.S. He is a fluent speaker of mandarin Chinese. Michael was born and raised near Kansas City, Missouri.

Claire leads the Member Services, Government Affairs & Policy teams, and oversees the Chamber’s Cooperation Programs.