AiRi Group was founded & registered in Singapore in 2009 by Xu Lihong & Martin Darby with the objective of bridging the gap between east and west through long term investment in lifelong learning, education, trade and relationships. AiRI Group invests in school education in China under the brand name AIRIS Education AiRi Group is open to consider investment opportunities in education, enrichment, edutainment and happiness lifestyle businesses throughout Asia. About the founders... XU LIHONG has worked and studied in Beijing, Oxford, Sydney and Singapore. She holds an Honours Degree from Liaoning University and an MBA from Oxford. Lihong is a qualified chartered accountant (ACCA) and teacher of Chinese as a foreign language. Lihong manages the Singapore and China Education and Trading Businesses and through a 50:50 joint venture partnership, owns and operates a school in Shenyang. Lihong worked for many years for Liaoning Foreign Trade and Economic Corporation organising trade with and business delegations to North Korea, Oman, Hong Kong and Singapore. She is therefore well positioned to advise on all aspects of international trade with China. MARTIN DARBY has worked and studied in the USA, Australia and Singapore. He holds an Honours Degree from University of Wales Aberystwyth and an MBA from Oxford. Martin is an experienced Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with a proven track record of devising & developing demanding, highly effective business strategies and new retail/lifestyle brands; then delivering exceptional sales, service and operational results; in complex, dispersed, fast changing, highly competitive global international markets including the emerging markets of China and Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, plus also the established markets of North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. Martin has worked for global brands including Starbucks Coffee, Vodafone, Marks & Spencer, FIFA and The Walt Disney Corporation.
