Rich McClellan

Chief Executive Officer @ Vietnam's International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City

About

Rich is a market builder working at the intersection of governance, capital, and institutional design. He currently serves as CEO of the Viet Nam International Financial Center (VIFC) in Ho Chi Minh City, where he is focused on building the legal, regulatory, and operational foundations of a credible, globally integrated financial center. With experience spanning investment, market entry, public policy, and economic reform, Rich has spent more than two decades helping governments, investors, and institutions unlock growth in emerging markets. Now approaching a decade in Vietnam, he has led major initiatives in financial-sector development, trade modernization, and FDI strategy. He spent 11 years with McKinsey & Company and later founded and led the Tony Blair Institute’s Vietnam office, supporting the government on flagship reforms—including the creation of Vietnam’s International Financial Centers and national FDI modernization programs. At VIFC, his focus is on translating policy ambition into functioning institutions: regulatory architecture, capital-market infrastructure, and investor engagement mechanisms that meet international standards while remaining grounded in Vietnam’s context. He continues to engage with global investors, development partners, and financial institutions committed to Vietnam’s long-term market development.

Country

City

Vietnam

Industry

Government Administration

Skill

International Market Entry, Due Diligence, Market Entry, Sustainability Consulting, Leadership Development, Power Project Development, Development Economics, Economic Development, Banking, Public Sector, Sustainability Strategy, Building New Business, Management, Growth Strategies, Public Policy, Sustainability, Project Management, Management Consulting, Business Strategy, Coaching

Experience

Chief Executive Officer

Vietnam's International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City

2026-1 - Present · 9 mos

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Steering Committee Member

Vietnam Financial Forum (VFF)

2025-10 - Present · 1 yr

Founder & Principal

RMAC Advisory, LLC

2015-7 - Present · 11 yrs 3 mos

Vietnam

Strategic advisory for investment, growth, and policy innovation in Vietnam and beyond.

Founding Country Director, Vietnam

Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

2022-3 - 2025-6 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Vietnam

Built and led TBI Vietnam from the ground up, advising senior government leaders on high-impact strategies for economic growth, FDI attraction, trade policy, and international financial center development.

Senior Advisor (External)

McKinsey & Company

2018-8 - 2021-9 · 3 yrs 2 mos

Served as expert to McKinsey teams working on strategy and policy topics.

Adjunct Professor of Business Strategy

Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University

2018-1 - 2018-6 · 6 mos

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Designed and led capstone strategy course (case study method) for undergraduate students preparing to graduate in business and finance topics.

Vice President, Special Projects

MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network

2016-1 - 2017-12 · 2 yrs

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

MAGNET is a non-profit regional economic development agency co-founded by government and local philanthropy. I led strategic initiatives under the direction of the CEO, including conception, research, problem solving, design, and implementation of new programs and initiatives. I served in interim executive capacities while restructuring various departments; and I provided strategy and development support for leaders across all departments.

Chief of Party

Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

2014-6 - 2015-7 · 1 yr 2 mos

Hanoi, Hanoi, Vietnam

Senior Policy Advisor, Haiti

Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

2013-10 - 2014-6 · 9 mos

Port-au-Prince, Département de l'Ouest, Haiti

Chief of Party

Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

2013-1 - 2013-10 · 10 mos

Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Senior Engagement Manager & Sustainability Expert

McKinsey & Company

2010-1 - 2012-12 · 3 yrs

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Led top-level policy and strategic planning efforts with governments, NGOs, and financial institutions. Primarily focused on sustainable development issues, including job growth, private sector development and SMEs, water planning, agriculture, education, and privatization of state-owned enterprises. Designated “Sustainable Resource Productivity Expert.”

Engagement Manager

McKinsey & Company

2008-6 - 2010-1 · 1 yr 8 mos

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Associate

McKinsey & Company

2006-9 - 2008-6 · 1 yr 10 mos

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Director

Viktor Schreckengost Foundation

2005-4 - 2006-9 · 1 yr 6 mos

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

Led multiple for-profit and non-profit activities supporting the legacy of influential Cleveland artist Viktor Schreckengost. Activities included developing IP rights (licensing, prints, reproductions) and legacy building (exhibitions, books, publicity events, archiving, and successful petitioning for the National Medal of the Arts). During this time I also conceived and led a special project to reproduce Viktor’s most well-known artwork, The Jazz Bowl, with a team of 15 student artists at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s ceramics studio.