Jeff Towson

Jeff Towson is an expert in digital transformation, investment strategy, and business models, particularly within China and Asia’s fast-evolving tech ecosystem. As a former Professor of Investment at Peking University, Jeff gained recognition as one of the most followed finance and business analysts in Asia, with over 3.1 million LinkedIn followers. His career has spanned over two decades across the United States, China, Asia, and the Middle East, where he has worked as an investor, consultant, author, and keynote speaker. Jeff is known for having advised Fortune 500 firms, government entities, and major investors on how to navigate the shifting landscape of digital markets. He currently leads TechMoat Consulting, a boutique consultancy focused on AI, digital strategy, and business model transformation.

Earlier in his career, Jeff held a senior leadership role at Kingdom Holding Company, where he served as Head of Direct Investments for the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific. In this capacity, he worked closely with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, often called the ‘Arabian Warren Buffett’, overseeing multi-billion-dollar deals in real estate, healthcare, and retail. Some of his most notable projects included advising on the world's tallest skyscraper, the Jeddah Tower, and helping turn around Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Before this, he was CEO of Kingdom Hospital in Riyadh, where he managed complex healthcare investment strategies. His expertise in finance and strategy was built on an early foundation as a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, specialising in financial services and healthcare consulting.

Beyond investment, Jeff has been an influential educator and thought leader. From 2013 to 2020, he was a professor at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management, where he taught investment strategy and digital transformation. His deep insights into China's digital landscape have been widely recognized, leading him to be named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Finance (2017) and a LinkedIn Top Voice for China (2016, 2017, 2018). Jeff is also a best-selling author, with books such as ‘The One Hour China Book’, and the ‘Moats and Marathons’ series, which break down the competitive advantages of leading companies. Additionally, he hosts the ‘Tech Strategy Podcast’, where he analyses the business models of companies like Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com, and Ant Financial.

Jeff Towson’s academic background is as impressive as his professional career. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MD from Stanford University School of Medicine, and a BA in Physics from Pomona College. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Biophysics at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Jeff has been featured on Bloomberg, CGTN, CBS News, and ABC, and is frequently cited by global firms such as Huawei and Alibaba as a top business influencer. Today, he continues to shape discussions on the future of digital transformation, business moats, and competitive strategy in Asia and beyond.