Manzhou (Joe) Yan

Co-Founder
Griggs Shanghai
Director & COO Griggs China

Mr. Manzhou (Joe) Yan, a graduate of the University of Cambridge, a world-leading institution, has dedicated over a decade to the international education sector. He possesses extensive operational and management experience in large-scale education groups and renowned enterprises. With a profound academic foundation and forward-looking industry vision, he has held senior management positions—including President and General Manager—at Fortune Global 500 companies such as Sunac China Holdings and Red Star Macalline, as well as leading international bilingual schools in China, including Sunshine Education and Shanghai Pinghe School. Throughout his career, he has accumulated rich and solid practical capabilities in strategic planning, team management, and resource integration.

Mr. Yan has consistently focused on the localization and refined operation of international education brands, personally leading the end-to-end deployment of several renowned international education brands in China. From top-level design of school establishment plans and integrated innovation of curriculum systems to school-enterprise resource connection and the construction of student status management systems, he has leveraged precise market judgment and efficient execution strategies to lead his team in overcoming challenges in project implementation. His efforts have helped partner schools achieve dual enhancement in educational quality and brand influence, setting replicable industry benchmarks for the innovative development of several well-known education groups.

Since joining Griggs China, Mr. Yan has served as Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing three core business areas: project investment, operational management, and risk control. Anchored in the group’s development vision, he has strategically positioned the organization in high-quality sectors, promoted the standardized implementation of international curricula, and established a multi-dimensional risk early-warning mechanism. These initiatives have built a solid foundation for the group’s sustainable development and advanced the in-depth dissemination of Griggs’ international education philosophy in China.