Andy Zhao joined GfK in 1994. He set up the China Division within GfK Japan prior to starting a retail audit of the Chinese market, initially on consumer electronics products. In 1996, Andy Zhao transferred to Hong Kong as General Manager in order to establish the headquarters for China and to continue building up the Chinese GfK retail audit business. In 1999, Zhou, now appointed Chief Representative in China, moved to Beijing and set up the GfK Asia Beijing office. The following year, as General Manager, he established in Shanghai GfK Market Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. The retail auditing business of GfK China has grown very fast and and is now by a substantial margin market leader in durable goods retail tracking in China. The GfK China Panel currently covers 223 cities and more than 400 counties. The products covered comprise Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, IT, Photo, Telecom, DIY and others.
Andy Zhao is now Managing Director of GfK China, Executive Vice-President of CMRA (China Market Research Association) and guest Professor at the University of Beijing.

• Based on the total number of cameras in use, China is now the biggest camera market in the world.


• In 2008, 21 digital cameras will be sold per minute in China.

• What is it that drives the imaging market in China?


• What kind of photos do people shoot?


• What kind of cameras are people using and what do they want to buy?


• What do the 2008 Olympic Games mean for the imaging market in China?

“China 2008, the year of Olympicturing”