Johnson & Johnson China Chairman Will Song Honored as '2021–2022 Shanghai Outstanding Entrepreneur'

ShanghaiJanuary 11, 2024/PR Newswire/ --Recently, "2021-2022The results of the "2023 Shanghai Outstanding Entrepreneur" awards have been officially announced. Song Weiqun, Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson and Chairman for China, has been honored on the list, together with other entrepreneurs based in Shanghai.20Individuals have received this prestigious honor. Leaders from the Shanghai Municipal Government, the Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the Municipal Commerce Commission, the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, and the Shanghai Enterprise Confederation presented trophies and certificates to the distinguished entrepreneurs. Attendees included leaders from relevant municipal commissions and offices, heads of municipal industry associations and chambers of commerce, awardees of the outstanding entrepreneur accolade, representatives of evaluation experts, delegates from various district enterprise federations, and the media.200The rest of the people attended the commendation meeting.

Shanghai Municipal Government Leaders Present Certificates of Honor and Trophies to Outstanding Entrepreneurs

Song Weiqun (second from the left), Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson and Chairman of Johnson & Johnson China, receives recognition.

The "Shanghai Outstanding Entrepreneurs" selection and commendation event is guided by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and hosted by the Shanghai Enterprise Confederation and the Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association. It is held once every two years. The event focuses on five key elements that represent the entrepreneurial spirit: "patriotism," "innovation-driven," "integrity and lawfulness," "social responsibility," and "global perspective." Participation is through self-recommendation by enterprises, organizational recommendations, and expert nominations. After undergoing a strict selection process including preliminary qualification review, expert re-evaluation, credit consultation, public disclosure, final jury review, and special approval procedures, outstanding entrepreneurs based in Shanghai are selected and commended.

2023 marks the 20th year since Song Weiqun joined Johnson & Johnson. With a global perspective, an open and innovative mindset, and decisive actions, he has led Johnson & Johnson China to actively participate in the construction of "Healthy China," fully playing its role as an industry leader by providing high-quality innovative healthcare products to serve the health of the people. Johnson & Johnson also fully supports the government in building a more complete public health system, helping China's healthcare industry and public health sector move forward.

As the first China-born chairman of Johnson & Johnson's China region in the company’s over 130-year global history, Song Weiqun has led the Johnson & Johnson China President’s Council in recent years to accelerate the innovation journey and synergistic development of the company’s two major businesses in China—In China, For China; In China, For the World. Under Song’s leadership, Johnson & Johnson became the first Fortune Global 500 multinational enterprise to designate the Chinese market as a global "Innovation Engine" in 2019. At the same time, Johnson & Johnson has been actively promoting local research and development, innovation, collaboration, and supply chain capacity building in China. China is also the only market outside the United States where Johnson & Johnson has end-to-end R&D capabilities for both of its major businesses.

Shanghai is the location of Johnson & Johnson's China headquarters. The company owns multiple registered companies and manufacturing plants in districts such as Xuhui, Pudong, and Minhang in Shanghai, and is one of the top 100 tax-paying foreign enterprises in Shanghai. As a multinational enterprise rooted in China and Shanghai, Johnson & Johnson has always firmly supported the various initiatives of the Shanghai municipal government. In addition to its continuous investment in commercial capabilities and talent development, the company has also been strengthening its local R&D, innovation, supply chain, and collaboration capabilities to support industrial development. Johnson & Johnson is a leading enterprise supporting the Shanghai municipal government’s efforts to build a global science and technology innovation center, with an Asia-Pacific Innovation Center and the world’s largest innovation incubator located in Shanghai. In 2021, Johnson & Johnson’s external innovation platform was recognized by the Shanghai municipal government as the first open innovation platform for foreign enterprises.

As one of the largest exhibitors in the healthcare industry participating in the China International Import Expo for six consecutive years, Johnson & Johnson’s medical technology business announced its MONARCH at the 6th CIIE in 2023.^®The MONARCH Platform, the first robot-assisted system for diagnosis and treatment through natural human cavities approved for marketing in China, has been officially launched. China has also become the home to MONARCH.^®The robot has received regulatory approval in its first market outside the United States, and after the product launch, it will benefit a large number of patients with pulmonary nodules and lung cancer.

In 2023, Johnson & Johnson successfully completed the global split of its consumer health business and brand renewal, focusing on two major businesses: medical technology and innovative pharmaceuticals. With the cross-business comprehensive strength in the healthcare field, the company continues to promote healthcare innovation, address the most severe health challenges, and drive the development of global health. Last year, the global chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, along with multiple members of the global executive committee, visited Shanghai multiple times. They communicated with the government, medical institutions, partners, and other parties to jointly outline the blueprint for Johnson & Johnson's future development in China.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to supporting China's healthcare industry and economic and social development, Song Weiqun has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the "Shanghai Model Worker" title (2020), "CEO of the Year" on the *China Newsweek* Annual Influential Figures List (2021), the highest honor at the 12th Health China Forum—"Top Ten Figures in Health China," "Outstanding Leader of a Multinational Corporation in China" by the *Economic Observer* (2021, 2022, and 2023), and "Forbes China's Top 100 Most Influential Chinese Elites (2023)."

Song Weiqun, Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson and Chairman of Johnson & Johnson China, stated: "I am deeply honored to be awarded the title of 'Shanghai Excellent Entrepreneur.' This significant honor not only belongs to me personally but also represents the high recognition and important acknowledgment from the government and the industry for the work Johnson & Johnson has done in Shanghai and across China. It is both an encouragement and a positive motivation for us. Guided by the spirit of Johnson & Johnson's Credo, we will continue to leverage the strategic position of Shanghai as our regional headquarters in China, seize the historic opportunities presented by the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, and closely align Johnson & Johnson’s long-term development in Shanghai and across China with the grand goals of building a new era of Chinese modernization. We will utilize the company's global resource advantages to support the government in continuing to contribute to the health and well-being of 1.4 billion people in China."