We are happy to announce that Julia Larsen-Disney in MU China has been appointed as Group Director. Julia is a seasoned international executive search and leadership advisory leader, based in Shanghai, where she serves as Group & Team Director and Director of MU China at Mercuri Urval, partnering with global clients across automotive, e-mobility, and advanced technology.
With more than 20 years of international experience across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Greater China, she has spent the past decade deeply embedded in the APAC mobility sector, building strong regional expertise and networks. Julia holds a degree in Macro-Economics, Psychology and Business Administration. Having lived in many countries but calling Shanghai home for the last 10 years, Julia brings a distinctly global, cross-cultural perspective shaped in part by her German roots (Hamburg) and a genuine passion for developing future-ready leaders.
Now let us introduce Julia Larsen-Disney.
To me, being appointed Group Director, is a profound recognition of my contributions and commitment, and I am sincerely grateful. Being on the journey towards Partner is an honour that deepens my trust in and dedication to MU. I look forward to living our shared values, driving collective success, and strengthening my cooperation with this exceptional team of colleagues globally for many years to come.
My decision to build my career at MU wasn't just about a job; it was about finding a philosophy I could believe in and values to share. Early on, I was impressed by how we don't just talk about effective leadership—we have science for it. Our Leader Selection Science®, backed by our ISO 10667 certification, means we can provide advice grounded in evidence, not just intuition. Knowing our success rate consistently surpasses 90%, against an industry average that often feels like a coin flip, gives me immense pride and confidence in the value we deliver.
But the real story for me is how we achieve that. The high-impact results are driven by a genuine and authentic culture—one of kindness, fairness, and true meritocracy. I’ve seen firsthand how MU invests in people's careers, not just extracts from their roles. This belief in potential, coupled with a fair environment where contribution is recognised, may be one reason why our staff retention rates are comparatively high. Colleagues stay (and return to MU) because they’ve found a place where professional growth and personal integrity are not just compatible but interconnected.
That combination—the reliable science of what we do and the value we can offer our clients, powered by the human-centric way of how we do it—is why I’m here. It’s a partnership where excellence and ethics drive success, and I am proud to be part of it!
For me, working with MU has always been about being part of something that truly transcends borders. Our integrated practice model means we operate as ONE team worldwide, providing our clients with assistance from a single point of contact while maintaining consistent quality standards across all locations. This isn't just a policy; it's our daily practice.
My role in APAC, acting as a bridge between Asia and Europe, puts this into sharp focus. The true potential is realised when this model is brought to life through cross-border collaboration. I recall a client noting the ‘tangible chemistry’ between our team of consultants, industry and practice experts from Germany, Austria, China and Singapore—a testament to our unified culture. Even more powerful was feedback from another leader, who, after seeing how we navigate complex and remote markets as cross-cultural teams said they would ‘trust our network as global experts on any leadership challenge, anywhere in the world’.
It has been a most rewarding experience partnering with a European manufacturing company in strategically accompanying their Asia expansion in the areas of diversification and risk mitigation, leadership localisation, R&D and supply chain off- and nearshoring; as a global team we were providing comprehensive leadership advice (and beyond) in three countries at once, placing their key leaders and being part of their success story.
It is great being part of the APAC team with my dedicated colleagues here in China, in Singapore, India, Japan, Australia and now the Middle East!
One of the most exciting projects right now is building a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia-Pacific from our DACH base. The core idea is ‘Enabling Bridge Leadership’.
European boards and company owners are navigating a complex Asian landscape: supply chain considerations, strategic offshoring, and the sheer pace of innovation. The question isn't just what to do, but how to execute with local nuance while maintaining global cohesion. This is where the bridge leader—a culturally agile executor who can connect headquarters’ strategy with regional reality—becomes critical.
My mission is to set up our APAC DESK as the go-to resource for cultivating these leaders and strategies. By leveraging our unique network of on-the-ground experts in leadership, industries, and policy across Asia and Europe, we provide a comprehensive view and project execution in both leadership acquisition and advisory.
Our presence in Asia extends from the Middle East to Australia/NZ, covering South Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia and Greater China.
I’m excited to be at this intersection and building more projects that don’t just advise European businesses on Asia but actively equip them with the leaders and frameworks to thrive in this exciting growth market.
Are you curious about a global career at MU, where you can make a genuine impact on your clients, grow alongside exceptional colleagues, and work in a dynamic, supportive culture? Read more at our a career at MU page and reach out to Robin Karlestedt, Global Talent Aquisition, to learn more!