Early Life and Education
Zhang Lei was born in 1972 in Zhumadian, Henan province, China. He received a scholarship to Renmin University of China, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1994. In 1999, he interned at the Yale University Endowment under the mentorship of David F. Swensen, which provided him with his first experience in finance. He later translated Swensen's book "Pioneering Portfolio Management" into Chinese while studying at Yale.
Rise to Success
In 2002, Zhang earned his MBA and MA in International Relations from Yale University. After graduating, he worked with a Virginia-based investment firm. In 2005, he founded Hillhouse Investment with seed capital from Yale's endowment fund. Hillhouse has since become a significant global investment firm, managing a diverse portfolio across various sectors with a particular focus on Asia.
Key Business Strategies
Zhang's investment philosophy is rooted in long-term value investing. He focuses on partnering with visionary entrepreneurs. His approach blends academic discipline, shaped by his Yale training, with pragmatic deal-making, allowing Hillhouse to navigate volatile markets. Hillhouse's early investments in companies like Tencent and JD.com have been highly successful.
Philanthropy
Zhang is actively involved in philanthropy, particularly in the field of education. He has made substantial donations to Yale University, Renmin University of China, and other institutions. His philanthropic efforts include establishing the Gaoli Academy at Renmin University in 2016 to advance value investing principles and humanities education.