Chris Helzer is a distinguished professional with over 35 years of experience working and living in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Vietnam. He recently retired from Nike, where he served as the Vice President of Global Public Policy. In this role, Chris led a global team addressing critical policy areas such as trade, sustainability, AI, digital, and tax. Over his 25-year career at Nike, he held various key positions, including serving as General Manager of Nike Vietnam.

Before joining Nike, Chris was a founding leader at Nghe An Tate & Lyle, a major joint venture agricultural company in the sugar industry. There, he managed business development, human resources, and external affairs. His early career included work with several non-government organizations in Vietnam focused on health and sport.

Chris is known for his deep expertise in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. His contributions include cultivating strong relationships with governments and external stakeholders. In addition to his corporate achievements, Chris served in the United States Air Force in national security roles.

He continues to be active in philanthropic activities, particularly those that empower youth through sport. Chris also stays busy managing a diverse real estate portfolio in the US Pacific Northwest. He enjoys mentoring youth and helping small businesses successfully expand across the Pacific Ocean.

Chris, a native Oregonian, graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He recently resides in Singapore and frequently travels to Vietnam.

Since July 2025, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Fulbright University Vietnam.