In recognition of their outstanding contributions to Shanghai's development and international connections, the municipal government has announced the recipients of the 2025 Magnolia Gold Award and Honorary Citizen titles, the city's highest honors for expatriates.

Three expatriates in Shanghai's Changning district received the distinction: Simon Lichtenberg, founder and CEO of Trayton Group; David Derek Shepherd, Artistic Consultant at Shanghai Ballet; and Anuruddha Rathnide, Asia Pacific President of Johnson Controls.

Simon Lichtenberg, founder and CEO of Trayton Group from Denmark, has lived in Shanghai for 32 years. He has been instrumental in promoting foreign investment and enhancing economic and trade cooperation between China and Denmark. As a long-term resident of Changning, Lichtenberg has also provided valuable input to several national and local legislative initiatives.

Anuruddha Rathnide keeps driving Johnson Controls' growth strategy across the Asia-Pacific region, including China. He advocates for high-quality, sustainable development through innovation and technological advancement, supporting Shanghai's strategic industries and contributing to the integration and industrial upgrading of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Derek Deane served as the artistic director of the Shanghai Ballet from 2018 to 2023 and has continued as Artistic Consultant since 2024. Drawing on his extensive creative experience and international influence, he has made significant contributions to the company's repertoire development, talent cultivation, and global promotion.

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Changning media center at "shchangning"