John Caslione

John Caslione: Profile

John is vigorously sought after by business and government leaders alike who seek a global perspective, including how U.S. - and European-based organizations can become even more global. Caslione advises leaders that in today’s turbulent economy, which, in effect, is our New Normality, higher growth rates will be evident in our fast-growing emerging markets, and lower growth (GDP results) will be experienced in both the U.S. and in Europe. Caslione’s global business strategies prepare leaders for success, as they learn to shift and plan for growth outside their own borders, and as the “Rise of the Rest” becomes a big part of their new expected paths to growth; and everyone’s new and now highly anticipated – the “New Normality.”

Having done business in 88 countries on six continents over the past 20 years including many high growth emerging markets in Asia, The Middle East, South America and Africa, John’s dynamic and pragmatic approach to engaging an audience, with today’s complex topics, has kept him in high demand as a premier keynote speaker worldwide. John’s presentations address the most provocative and important business topics of the day that he presents to many forums including corporate Fortune 500 and FT 100 company events and notable industry conferences worldwide.

 John’s keynotes are widely applauded by business and government leaders alike. He is also a frequent keynote speaker and chairman of many leading conferences speaking on the global economy and global business development in many forums including: the Dubai Global Strategy Conference, the China Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference and many noted conferences and private business events in the U.S., South America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Asia/Pacific.

John and his co-author, the noted marketing thought leader Philip Kotler, have collaborated together to write CHAOTICS: The Business of Managing and Marketing in The Age of Turbulence (AMACOM Publishing, 2009). CHAOTICS is published in 63 countries and in 30 languages. CHAOTICS now serves as a new platform for strategy development and execution for business enterprises and government agencies to more effectively hedge risk and confront uncertainty as they navigate through turbulence in the New NormalityTM, i.e., unpredictable and intermittent spurts of economic prosperity intermingled with spurts of economic downturn.

John also has two top-rated books published in China, Going Global – How to Globalize Your Business and Developing Successful Global Sales and Distribution Channel Strategies (Economy & Management Publishing House, 2005), which focus upon critical global growth strategies for China’s emerging international businesses.

John is Founder, President, and CEO of GCS Business Capital, LLC (GCS) with offices in Chicago, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Milan. Founded in 2005, GCS is a cross-border mergers and acquisitions advisor to U.S., European and Asian middle market companies seeking to globalize their businesses through mergers, acquisitions and strategic joint ventures. Prior to founding GCS, John was the Founder, President and CEO of Andrew-Ward International, Inc. (AWI), an international management consulting firm assisting U.S. and Europe firms to develop global marketing and sales and global distribution channel strategies, along with assisting clients worldwide in their M&A activities by conducting due diligence for business target acquisitions, and advising on turnarounds and restructurings. Founded in 1991, AWI was merged into GCS in 2008.

John serves as director and/or advisor for many U.S., European, Chinese and other Asian firms to globalize their businesses, including both large and middle market enterprises. He is a founding member of Rotary International’s first English-speaking international member club in Frankfurt, Germany in 2006. John earned his Bachelors of Science and MBA from the University of New York (Buffalo) and his J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Chicago-Kent College of Law (Chicago).