Our Leadership
Jim Yang - Managing Partner
Jim has over 30 years of experience on Wall Street in the financial services industry. Prior to forming Esae Capital Partners, he was a Managing Director in Merrill Lynch's Principal Investment Division (PID) in New York City before moving to Asia to lead its efforts throughout Asia, including Japan, India and Australia.. Jim joined Merrill Lynch in the Investment Banking / Corporate Finance Division in NYC and then worked in the Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity Division before transferring to PID.
He began his career at Citicorp in Citicorp Venture Capital in New York. At Citicorp, Jim also structured and syndicated high yield loans in Citicorp's Global Finance and Analysis group as well structured and executed advisory assignments in Mergers & Acquisitions. Throughout his career, Jim has provided advisory services to, invested in, and has served on the boards of various financial services, technology and industrial companies.
Jim earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB from Brown University. He has spent over six years working throughout Asia, based in Seoul, South Korea and in Hong Kong, China.
Christopher Lee - Managing Partner
Chris is a 30+ year veteran of the fashion and apparel industry as a senior operating executive and investor. He served as the Chief Executive Offer of trendy fashion retailer Kitson and strategically grew its business before selling the company to a strategic investor in 2015. Before Kitson, Chris was a Senior Vice President at another major fashion retailer, Forever 21. He was responsible for the store acquisition and growth strategy, which saw the retailer grow from 85 to 420 stores globally.
Chris has served on a number of industry organizations dedicated to promoting financial and capital awareness for small to medium sized businesses. He served on the Industrial Development Authority under LA Mayor Villaraigosa as well as a Vice-Chairman for the Korean IT SME / Venture Business Association.