ACG Cleveland Regional East: “The Power of Local Partnerships” with Transtar Holding Company and Blue Point Capital Partners

Chip has been with the group since 1998 and opened Blue Point’s Shanghai office, which he continues to lead, in 2004. Prior to Blue Point, Chip worked in business development for the Sara Lee Corporation in Hong Kong, as well as for Strategic Planning Associates (now part of Oliver Wyman), providing strategic consulting services to a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Chip holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from Brown University and a Master’s of Public Affairs from Princeton University. Chip has been a contributor on issues related to China investments to a number of national news organizations, including Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and American Public Media’s national radio show, Marketplace.

On behalf of Blue Point, Chip serves as a director of Gesco, Next Level, Spector & Co. and Transtar.

In his spare time, Chip enjoys biking, swimming and traveling with his family. He met his wife in the fifth grade and they have four kids, with music in their house running the gamut from Katy Perry to Kendrick Lamar. Chip also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), working with children in the Cuyahoga County juvenile court system. He is also a former member of the Shanghai chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization.

Neil Sethi is the President and CEO of Transtar Holding Company, LLC, a portfolio of diversified distributors and manufacturers of high quality branded automotive products with over 80 locations and 1500 employees in North America.  Neil is a 17-year veteran of the automotive industry through progressive roles at Transtar and previously was the co-founder and CEO of Transmaxx, LLC a technology driven automotive parts distributor that was acquired by Transtar in 2017.  During his tenure in automotive, he has actively participated in over a dozen acquisitions and divestitures.  Earlier in his career, Neil was a healthcare consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.  

Neil serves as Director for University Hospitals, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, University School, and is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and The 50 Club of Cleveland.  His prior board appointments include Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Orchestra, TIE Global, and he was the prior Chairman of the Board of Ahuja Medical Center.  He also previously served on For-Profit Boards of private businesses that were private equity owned of which MURA Holdings, a family office, was a co-investor.  In addition, Neil is a member of Crain’s Business “40 under 40” Class of 2010. Neil received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.  He obtained a Doctorate of Medicine from University of Cincinnati, and an MBA with concentration in Finance from Georgetown University where he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.  Outside of work and philanthropic commitments, Neil enjoys spending time with his wife, Manisha and their three children.  His hobbies include music composition, distance running, and golf.