We are Acclime China.
Acclime is a premier provider of professional formation, accounting, tax, audit & finance, HR and advisory services in China. We focus on providing high-quality outsourcing and consulting services to our international clients in China and throughout the region.
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board registered
Professional Development
Trainee Development – Platinum
Regional payroll partner
Authorised Training Employer
From Asia, for Asia.
Acclime China is part of the Acclime Group – an Asia-focused corporate services specialist with a genuine, on-the-ground presence in all of Asia’s hardest-to-navigate markets. By staying on top of regulatory changes, we help our corporate clients manage local governmental and administrative compliance issues quickly and with a minimum of fuss.
Vision & mission
Elevating the standards of corporate governance in Asia.
At Acclime, we aspire to become Asia’s premier corporate services firm, elevating the standards of corporate governance everywhere we operate. We are active in all Asian markets, with a particular focus on emerging Asia, where it is difficult to find corporate services firms offering the same high standards and responsiveness as it is in the more mainstream locations such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Acclime difference
Built from the bottom up.
We are unique in the field of corporate services in Asia in that Acclime is partner owned and its partners are the largest shareholders in the company. What does it mean to you and your business?
Seamless regional service
In Acclime’s obstacle-free structure, our partners have the drive and willingness to collaborate across borders irrespective of which of our offices will reap the benefit.
Hands-on attention
Our clients receive far more hands-on attention from our senior managers and partners than they would at Big Four firms or similar corporate services providers in Asia.
Speed & flexibility
We are nimble, responsive and always able to help. Our partners can make swift and effective decisions on your behalf, cutting through bureaucracy and guiding you forward.
Brand values
Our beliefs unlock true potential.
Expertise.
Our local knowledge of complex Asian markets is unparalleled. But we get the big picture, too — with a global perspective that will help your business interests prosper.
Agility.
We help you navigate the most complex aspects of operating throughout Asia. Applying speed and dexterity to win you success, our reliability eases anxiety and stress in your operations.
Innovation.
Innovative thinking and new technology are what make Acclime different. Everything we do is geared to serve you and accelerate your business.
Collaboration.
Across Asian markets or in our own teams, working with you and for you, we believe combined efforts give the best outcome.
Empathy.
It’s emotional intelligence that really sets us apart, thanks to deep roots country-by-country. Driving your business forward with fairness and humility.
Our people
Leadership in China.
In-country experts with an exceptional industry reputation and track record in China.
Ann Sophie de Meester.
Corporate Services Director
Ann Sophie is a director of Acclime China, co-manages the team and focuses on maintaining strong client relationships.
Before joining Acclime China, Ann Sophie was the Group Financial Controller for a Norwegian multinational, and she worked as director for corporate services at Chinese law firm R&P China Lawyers. Over several years working in China, she has built extensive experience advising foreign companies on tax compliance for various cross-border operations, including VAT and CIT optimization. She specializes in intercompany transactions, and reconciliation of financial statements so that they comply with IFRS and China GAAP.
Ann Sophie was educated at Aarhus University in Denmark, with a dual BA in Chinese and Business Administration. Ann Sophie also attended programs at Shanghai Jiaotong University and Shanghai Donghua University, and is fluent in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English and Chinese (Mandarin).
Bram Voeten.
Business Development Manager
As business development manager of Acclime China, Bram’s responsibility is to ensure that the needs of Acclime China’s foreign clients are met. He acts as a bridge between international clients and the company’s accountants and tax specialists.
Before joining Acclime China, Bram worked in a number of commercial positions. His client portfolios contained several of the world’s biggest retailers including Aldi and Walmart. Bram has built a strong understanding of both western and Chinese culture, which has proven to be invaluable to align mutual expectations.
Bram earned a Bachelor in Commercial Economics from the Avans University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and focused his optional courses on doing business with China. He is fluent in English and Dutch, and always working on improving his Chinese.
Gina Chen.
Operations Director
Gina is the operations director of Acclime China. She manages the team of financial consultants and accountants to provide high-level corporate services to the subsidiaries of multinational and transnational companies in China; and plays an important role in Acclime China’s expansion through M&A activities.
She joined Acclime China from R&P China Lawyers, where she managed operations for the firm’s corporate service department. Her main expertise relates to bookkeeping, PRC & IFRS financial report, tax filing, tax planning & advice, risk control, corporate restructuring, financial due and financial advisory. As head of advisory, she is actively involved in complex tax matters and financial due diligence projects.
Gina graduated from Nanjing University and is PRC Certified Public Accountant. She is fluent in Chinese and English.
Joy Lu.
Senior Accountant
Joy is Acclime China’s senior accountant. She is in charge of some of the firm’s key accounts and co-supervises the accounting team.
Before joining Acclime China, Joy was accounting manager of US multinational, East Balt Baker Shanghai Co., Ltd. (the main burger supplier of McDonald and KFC in Mainland China) for ten years, and senior accountant of the corporate services department of R&P China Lawyers.
Joy graduated from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics with a LL.B. in accounting. She is a PRC Certified Public Accountant since 2003 and is fluent in Chinese and English.
Maarten Roos.
Partner
Maarten is a partner of Acclime China and as executive director has overall responsibility for the business. He is leading the financial and operations managers, supports expansion efforts of Acclime China, and safeguards and continues to improve Acclime Group’s high-quality service level in China.
Originally from the Netherlands, Maarten has been in China since 1999 and is fluent in Chinese. He worked for a leading law firm Wang Jing & Co. in Guangzhou, and in 2010 joined R&P China Lawyers, a boutique Shanghai-based law firm that supports international companies in China.
Maarten graduated from Leiden University (the Netherlands), and attended courses at Guangzhou’s Sun Yat-sen University, the Hong Kong Open University, and Harvard Law School (Leaders for Lawyers, 2018). He is on the supervisory board of 30+ subsidiaries of multinationals in China, and he is an arbitrator of the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai Arbitration Center / SHIAC) specialising in disputes on foreign investment, joint ventures and international cooperation, corporate law and contract law.
Robin Tabbers.
Partner
Robin is a partner of Acclime China. As executive director, he is also responsible for expansion, sales, and marketing, leads the business development and key accounts managers, and takes charge of Acclime China’s expansion through new client acquisitions and M&A.
He has been in China since 2010, when he joined R&P China Lawyers, a boutique Shanghai-based law firm that supports international companies in China.
Robin graduated from Tilburg University (the Netherlands), with a background in international law and economics. He is on the supervisory board of the China subsidiaries of several multinational companies. Legal directories’ client feedback praises him for his no-nonsense, direct and going-the-extra-mile approach when it comes to structuring and advising them on their China investment.
Stella Zhou.
Director
Stella is a director of Acclime China, for HR and payroll services. She also heads the company’s administration department.
Stella started her career at Junhe Law Office in an HR role, and headed HR and payroll services for R&P China Lawyers. Her focus remains on dealing with all kinds of HR-related issues, from payroll and social insurance matters to employment on-boarding and termination. She is also the key person for Acclime China’s virtual HR manager program.
Stella is fluent in Mandarin, Shanghainese and English.
Emily Shi.
Partner, Finance and Operations Director Beijing
Emily joined the Acclime team in January 2021 as Partner. She is responsible for leading the finance team which, provide high-level commercial business service to customers. Emily also takes the lead in managing the daily operations of the Beijing office.
Emily Shi has worked in the accounting field for almost 20 years. Prior to Acclime China, Emily Shi worked as CFO for many western entities, including Hong Kong, American, and European based companies. With ample knowledge and rich accounting and management experiences, Emily is dedicated to providing international and professional service with integrity and passion.
Emily graduated from the Zhejiang University of South China with the major of English Language Literature. She has earned both international and professional accounting qualification and proudly maintains her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certificate.
Jack O’Dwyer.
Director PRD
Jack is the Manager of the Acclime Group’s PRD office. He oversees the corporate service projects and supervises the accounting team.
Before joining Acclime China, Jack was the Manager of 1421 Consulting Group’s PRD office. He was also the founder of the International China Business Logistics Group.
Jack graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in International Relations, China Studies, and International Marketing in 2016. He then moved to mainland China and has gained experience working across a variety of industries. He has achieved HSK 5 certification and is fluent in Chinese and English.
Maxime Van ‘t Klooster.
Partner, Director Beijing
Maxime joined Acclime in January 2021 as Partner and Director of Acclime’s Beijing office. Furthermore, he leads the consulting department and is responsible for local business development and client relations.
Maxime was co-owner and COO of 1421 Consulting Group, which was acquired by Acclime. With over 7 years of experience in China, Maxime has advised clients in various industries on their strategy, market-entry, and local operations.
Maxime graduated from Maastricht University with a master’s degree in International Business and a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics. He also attended programs in Beijing, China, and Grenoble, France. Maxime is fluent in Dutch, English, and French.
Michael Pronk.
Partner, BD Director Europe
Michael joined the Acclime Group as Partner in January 2021 and serves as the head of business development and digital marketing in Europe. Michael is responsible for establishing strategic partnerships in Europe, finding potential clients, and establishing the name of Acclime within the Western world.
Michael Pronk was co-owner and CEO of 1421 Consulting Group, which was acquired by Acclime. Michael has 10 years of experience in international business development and marketing. Through his leadership, 1421 Consulting Group became a recognised brand in Europe.
Michael is an entrepreneur at heart, owning other business ventures in the Netherlands. Michael has a Fashion and Management Bachelor’s degree from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute.
Peter Pronk.
Ambassador
Since 1983, Peter has been a serial entrepreneur starting and partnering with over 24 companies across many different industries. In 2011, he founded 1421 Consulting Group which has supported over 250 global companies’ China-related business activities. In December 2020, 1421 Consulting Group joined the Acclime group where Peter will be the Ambassador of Acclime, supporting the BD team with bringing in new business. Peter is currently based in the Netherlands.
Peter originates from a meat “family” and The Hague. In 1983, he started his own meat processing company (P. Pronk Vlees B.V.), which he ran until 1997. Through various consulting assignments and his shareholding and management role at Swilion Business Consulting (1997 – 2005) he transitioned his work to the renewable energy sector. From 2005 to 2010, Peter was the Asia director for the Dutch wind turbine producer, Emergya Wind Technologies B.V. (EWT). In this role, he built up the market in Asia with an emphasis on China. In 2008, Peter moved to China with his wife and daughter. In April 2011, Peter started 1421 Consulting Group Ltd. with the goal of supporting Western companies doing business in China. From October 2018 until June 2020, Peter served as the director of a European Union-funded project called EUSME Centre, carried out by 6 Chamber of Commerce (London, Brussels and Beijing). In September 2020, Peter and his wife moved back to the Netherlands, where he now is the board member of an international meat company named F. Wellink Lekkerkerk B.V.
Peter holds a degree of life experience from the University of the world and likes to learn and experience more every day.
Timothy Lamb.
Managing Director
Timothy is the managing director of Acclime China, leading the integration of the offices to optimize the services, and establishing new opportunities for acquiring and servicing international clients interested in expanding to China or local clients venturing abroad.
With over 20 years of experience, Timothy has consulted with hundreds of European and North American Fortune 500 and SME’s to plan and execute their business expansion into Asia. After working at the JLJ Group for nearly ten years, he sold the business to the Sovereign Group and is now assisting Acclime to expand its business in China aggressively.
Timothy holds an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird, School of Global Management, and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Trade & Distribution Working Group of the European Union Chamber of Commerce China and is currently mentoring early-stage start-ups for an SOSV-funded accelerator.
Russell Brown OBE.
Vice-Chairman & Partner
Russell Brown OBE is Vice Chairman and Partner of Acclime Group, a regional corporate services firm. In 2001 Russell founded LehmanBrown International Accountants, a China‐focused accounting, taxation and business advisory firm employing around 200 professionals. LehmanBrown merged into Acclime Group in 2021. At LehmanBrown Russell was the Managing Partner.
Russell has over 36 years working experience including 27 years living in China and involved establishing and developing businesses in China. Prior to founding LehmanBrown Russell was Global CFO of one of the world’s largest public relations and communications consulting companies and prior to this their Asia Pacific Regional CFO.
He currently acts as advisor to international companies entering the China market and to Chinese companies venturing abroad. He has advised in a wide range of industries and business situations in China and Hong Kong. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars on cross border taxation, accounting and doing business in and with China and Hong Kong.
He is currently Treasurer of the British Chamber of Commerce in China and Treasurer of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in China. He has previously held various positions including Chair and Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, Vice Chair of the China‐Britain Business Council (CBBC), Chair and Director of the Asia Transformation and Turnaround Association. He is also an Honorary Member of The 48 Group Club.
Russell gained a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Bournemouth University, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in the UK and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). He is also a Certified Global Management Accountant. Russell was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to British Business and the British Community in China in Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2015.
Zhou Han.
Partner
Zhou Han is a Partner of Acclime China. Zhou Han has around 30 years of professional services experience, with over 20 years of those based in Asia.In 2001 Zhou Han co-founded LehmanBrown International Accountants, a China-focused accounting, taxation and business advisory firm employing around 200 professionals. In LehmanBrown, Zhou Han was a Senior Partner and operated as its Chief Operating Officer. LehmanBrown merged into Acclime Group in 2021.
Prior to LehmanBrown, Zhou Han had worked at the China Trust and Investment Corporation for Foreign Economic Relations and Trade under the Ministry of Commerce. She also worked with Bank of Scotland as an assistant manager in the project finance team, where she worked on various projects in Asia. Following that, Zhou Han moved back to Asia and was an economic analyst based in Singapore, covering China and Japan.
Zhou Han graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai International Studies University and a post graduate degree from the University of International Business and Economics in China. She also has a MSc. Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Christophe Marquis.
Director
CHINA
Christophe Marquis is the Director of the Shanghai office. He has over 20 years of experience in advising and assisting foreign SMEs and MNCs with their market entry, compliance requirements and growth strategy in China.
Christophe has an extensive knowledge of investment, compliance issues, individual and corporate taxation challenges, financial modeling, and due diligence support. Before joining Acclime China in 2021, for more than 10 years Christophe was the managing director of a boutique accounting and advisory firm that covered China’s main first tier cities as well as Hong Kong, and had a team of 50 professionals. He started his China career in Beijing as financial controller of RSM, a globally renowned accounting firm.
He has provided China incorporation support and investment evaluations to more than 100 foreign investment projects. He advises on financing and modeling structures for numerous businesses across various industries, such as: F&B, e-commerce, services, consumer goods and retail, entertainment, and health care.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and Asian Studies from EICD 3A Ecole Internationale de Commerce et de Developpement, located in Lyon and speaks English, French and Mandarin.
Stefan Kracht.
Managing Director and Owner, Fiducia Management Consultants – An Acclime company
Fiducia merged into Acclime Group in August 2022 and will formally transition to the Acclime brand in mid-2023. Fiducia was founded by Stefan’s parents Cynthia and Juergen in 1982 to carry out critical and necessary commercial operations for clients who source, sell or manufacture in Greater China.
As Fiducia’s owner and Managing Director since 2012, Stefan is responsible for all aspects of Fiducia’s business in regard to hundreds of clients and his team of over 100 specialists in five offices. After joining Fiducia in 2005, Stefan transformed the company culture, processes and systems to deliver multiple integrated services in long-term client relationships. Specifically, Stefan and his senior team refined Fiducia’s client strategy and positioning to focus on European owner-operated firms, ranging from USD50m-1b in revenues; integrated Fiducia’s sales and service delivery to ensure seamless client interaction; introduced technology-based delivery using ERP and other systems to enable scalability and transparency; and formalised Fiducia’s deep expertise with complicated and changing local rules and regulations. Many of these clients now looking to expand within Asia, which is a key reason for Fiducia to join Acclime.
Before joining Fiducia, Stefan ran and sold a company trading in components and materials in Shanghai. Prior to that he worked as a management consultant at Bain & Co. in London. He began his career in 1993 in China-related trade and investment as a management trainee at Otto Group, one of Europe’s leading eCommerce players, in Hamburg, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Stefan holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from the London School of Economics and a joint MBA from Kellogg (USA) and the University of Science & Technology (HK). He is a German national, fluent in English and German, and conversational in Mandarin and French. Stefan is an elected board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Vice-Chairman of the Management Consultancies Association of Hong Kong.
Julia Jin.
Director of Corporate Formation
Julia is a Director of Acclime China in corporate formation department. Julia has near 20 years’ experience in professional services and her expertise covers foreign investment advisory, special government certificate/approval application, company set up & modification and de-registration, government annual inspection/reporting and renewal, visa/working permit application for foreign experts, social welfare registration for local and foreign experts, etc.
Prior to joining Acclime, Julia worked with Manpower Human Resource Company as the supervisor focusing on HR filed.
Julia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English major from Beijing Normal University.
Yolanda Xie.
Partner, Audit
Yolanda joined Acclime in March 2023 as the Partner and Head of the Audit and Financial Advisory department.
Prior to joining Acclime, Yolanda was the Audit Partner at Deloitte. She spent over 15 years working in Deloitte’s audit and assurance department in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hongkong offices. She was committed to providing professional services for MNCs and HK-listed companies in the aviation, manufacturing, real estate and construction industries.
Yolanda is a CICPA and a specialist in IFRS. She graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of International Business and Economics in China.
Qian Mei.
Director of Accounting Services
Ms. Mei is the Director of Accounting Service in Acclime China based in the Beijing office.
Mei has over 20 years of professional accounting and financial experience in China. She has advised multi-national clients operating in China on various business and accounting issues, primarily focusing on accounting, tax, internal control, and business strategy advisory etc. Mei gained deep financial, accounting and tax experience through her multi-national accounting and business advisory clients.
Before working with Acclime, Mei had been a partner of Outsourcing Services in LehmanBrown International Accountants for 15 years, where she was responsible for accounting outsourcing services, tax and general business consulting etc. Mei graduated with a Master’s degree in Business and Administration from Stirling University.
Alfred Gan.
Managing Director, China
Alfred Gan is the Managing Director of Acclime China. He takes on the overall management role of the Chinese market by leading 200+ staff across Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to provide best-in-class professional services to both new and existing clients.
With over 15 years of experience in the B2B professional service industry in China and Europe, Alfred’s latest executive role before joining Acclime was overseeing the Greater China business of a leading US market research firm. He grew the organisation from 10 to 250+ employees, leading the business to achieve distinction in revenue and reputation.
Alfred graduated with a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from EDHEC Business School in France.