Lou Jiwei
Lou Jiwei is currently chair and CEO of China's sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corp. (CIC). Born in Beijing on December 24, 1950, Lou has had experience steering China's economy as an academic and as a policymaker.
From age 17, Lou served in the South China Navy before joining the ranks of the Beijing Automation Institute in 1973. Early in his career, he also spent time as a worker at the state-owned enterprise Shougang International Trade and Engineering Corp.
Lou attended Qinghua University from 1978 to 1982, earning a degree in computer systems engineering. Following graduation, Lou continued his studies for two years at the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Postgraduate School, where he concentrated in econometrics. After receiving his postgraduate degree in 1984, Lou served as the General Office deputy head for the State Council Financial and Banking Group. From 1984 to 1988, Lou was director of CASS's Institute of Finance and Trade Economics.
Lou became vice director of the Shanghai Economic System Reform Office in 1988 and worked there for more than three years. Between 1992 and 1995, he worked for two and a half years as director of the Macro-Control Department of the State Commission for Economic Restructuring.
In 1995, Lou became governor of Guizhou. Beginning in 1998, Lou was a vice minister of Finance, a position he retained for more than nine years. Briefly in 2007, Lou served as deputy secretary general of the State Council. In 2007, Lou became chair and CEO of CIC and is currently an alternate member of the 17th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.