When our Licensed Technologies partners in the Asia-Pacific region need help, they turn to Kelvin Sun. As Business Manager of APAC, Sales and Marketing for the Licensed Technologies Group, he works with prospective and ongoing partners to ensure smooth operations for all. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical physics from the University of Science and Technology of China, his master’s in biochemistry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and his PhD in analytical chemistry at Duquesne University. Sun is currently completing his MBA at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: Luminex has more than 70 partners globally, and I manage the partners for the Asia-Pacific region. I am based in Shanghai and am responsible for territories including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to making sure their business is going well, I also focus on developing new partners.
Q: What did you do before this job?
A: Immediately before joining Luminex, I was a chemistry business manager of APAC for Waters Corporation, a specialty measurement company that manufactured and sold laboratory instruments serving the life, materials, and food sciences.
Q: What drew you to Luminex?
A: I knew about Luminex because it is the leading company in bead-based multiplexing technology. The challenges of this job attracted me — it needs multiple capabilities such as a science background, sales and marketing experience, and bilingual skills.
Q: What have you learned about the field since joining the company?
A: There’s been very rapid growth, particularly in Asia, for the clinical diagnostic industry since 2010. With fewer than 30 Luminex employees covering this region, we have to take care of an install base greater than 1,500 just in China. That’s a big challenge for everyone. But it’s also a lot of fun. I work with many startups, building relationships with them over time as they become prospective partners.
Q: If you weren’t a business manager at Luminex, where would you be?
A: I probably would have moved back to my hometown in the northwest part of China to teach in a university. My parents were both high school teachers. I’d be a professor, maybe in biochemistry.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: There are large numbers of people dying of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. I would like to combine genetic treatment with big data to avoid those threats in the earliest stage.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I spent six years in elementary school learning to play the accordion. I kept up playing on my own when I started my work in China. Now I play traditional Chinese songs with my son, who plays the piano.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
A: I like to hang out with my wife and our 7-year-old son either at home or outdoors. We enjoy spending time in a library, a concert, or watching soccer games. We also really like going to restaurants that serve hot pot, Peking duck, or other spicy food.
