DS-Concept, a leading provider of international trade finance and factoring, announced that Chris Chang, currently CEO for the United States and China, will be promoted to CEO, Head of Global Sales effective immediately. In this newly created role, Chang will increase synergies and opportunities between our multiple international offices. A lot of our customers are global in nature and work across many countries– this role will ensure that our customers can work across our offices in a streamlined way.

"As an international firm, it is a great advantage for us to have a truly international resource like Chris Chang on our team.  In his new role, we look to Chris to continue to be a real global connector -- spotting opportunities and leveraging our network to commercialize all the existing possibilities that our business presents", said René Pastor, President, Global Commercial Operations.

Chris Chang joined DS-Concept seven years ago. Prior to joining DS-Concept, Chang spent ten years at ITOCHU Corporation, as Manager of Business Development and Corporate Planning. Prior to ITOCHU, Chang worked in the international fashion industry, at GFT/Giorgio Armani, amongst other major fashion houses.

DS-Concept also announced the promotion of John Stillwaggon, currently Senior Vice-President Sales in the New York office, to Managing Director USA, where he will be responsible for general management and commercial performance of the region. Mr. Stillwaggon will continue to advise and partner with the head office in Germany on the company’s global strategy.

"Since joining DS-Concept, John Stillwaggon has shown tremendous professional growth, and has consistently demonstrated the willingness and ability to step up to any challenge he's been presented with.  We are therefore pleased to announce his promotion, and expect that he will be a steady support for us, both commercially and administratively, during this important time in our company's growth,” said Pastor.

Stillwaggon has been with DS-Concept for over four years. Prior to joining DS-Concept, he was employed at COFACE, a €1.6 BB revenues insurance and financial services firm.

Charles Doc Lundberg, who joined DS-Concept early 2016, will be promoted to Senior Vice-President, based out of our their Los Angeles office.  Lundberg will continue to originate commercial opportunities, and expand DS-Concept’s network in the Western United States, as well as focus internationally on the substantial trans-pacific trade between the USA and China, Vietnam and other Asian markets. 

We are incredibly pleased to have Doc Lundberg on our team.  In his time at DS-Concept, he has shown a tremendous level of professionalism, determination, and consistency while carving out a brand-new market for us on the West Coast, all the while strengthening our penetration of the trans-Pacific trade.  This promotion is well-deserved, and is representative of both his accomplishments, and the ambition of our firm,” said Stillwaggon.

With more than 15 years of experience in financial management and deal generation, Lundberg was most recently the (deleted the) Director of Finance for an alternative lender in the field of purchase order finance transactions in the middle-market and government sectors. Previously, Lundberg was CFO for a privately held registered investment advisory group and private equity fund in Scottsdale, Arizona.
 
Brian Dowd, currently Assistant Vice-President Business Development, will be promoted effective immediately to Vice-President.  Dowd has been instrumental in continuing to grow the market’s awareness of DS-Concept, and has also directly contributed in originating many successful transactions in a variety of industries, both in the USA and internationally.

"Through his hard work and natural talents, Brian Dowd has become a 'go-to' member of our business development team.  His willingness to buckle down, and his knack for finding opportunities has contributed both directly and indirectly to some of our firm's recent wins.  We are pleased to announce his promotion to Vice President, both in recognition of his accomplishments so far, and in anticipation of his success to come," Stillwaggon said.

Prior to joining DS-Concept, Dowd served as AVP of Business Development at FGI, a New York-based trade finance and factoring firm.