• Global Affairs
• Advisory Board
• Richard King

Richard King

Richard King has been active in the international trade and investment field for over thirty years as a corporate executive, government official, and private consultant. He is a recognized authority on United States – Pacific Rim business relations, and he founded King International Group in 1980 to carry out his personal commitment to strengthening these relations and being a business bridge between Asia and America.

Prior to establishing the firm in 1980, Richard held management positions in international business development for twelve years with Kaiser Steel and Kaiser Industries. Later, he served for three years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Birtcher Corporation, an international medical electronics company. In 1978, Richard was appointed by the Governor of California to serve a two-year term as the State’s First Director of International Trade. In this capacity he represented the state’s interests in the international arena and assisted leading California agriculture, manufacturing and service companies in competing in world markets.

He currently serves on several advisory boards, including the Japan Business Association of Southern California, and All Nippon Airways. He is Honorary Chairman of both the Japan-American Society of Southern California and the California-Taiwan Trade and Investment Council, as well as past President and founder of the Hong Kong Association of Southern California. He is Chairman of U.S. China Business Institute, a training and education consulting firm. He is also on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Southern California, and Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. He is a Trustee and Chairman Emeritus of Woodbury University and directs Woodbury’s Pacific Rim Programs. Richard has served four years as Dean of the School of Business and Management at Woodbury. He also serves on the advisory board of Universidad Francisco Gavidia in El Salvador

Richard has lived and traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Rim. He is a frequent writer and speaker on trade and investment issues pertaining to the Pacific Rim. In 1989, he was inducted into the Greater Los Angeles World Trade Center’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to international business and international understanding. In July 1995, Richard was recognized as one of the top 60 international trade executives for contributions to the Southland’s economy by the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of “Who’s Who in International Trade”. In 1999, Emperor Akihito and the Government of Japan honored Richard with “The Order of the Rising Sun, Golden Rays and Rosette”. This award recognizes his contribution to the strengthening of economic ties between Japan and the U.S., as well as the betterment of mutual understanding between both countries.

Richard received a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, a Master of Arts degree from Occidental College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Woodbury University.

He and his wife Carol – a well-known author and writer, live on a two acre spread in the Arroyo in Pasadena, which they share with their German Shepherd, Bismark. Richard enjoys tennis, walking, reading, classical music and enhancing the quality of life.