Edgar Hotard is a senior advisor to the Monitor Group and serves as Chairman of Monitor China. He is also a venture partner with a venture capital firm and a private equity firm operating in China. As the retired President/COO of Praxair, Inc., a $6 billion industrial gases company, he has extensive experience in a number of industries including health care, life science, steel and other metals, fabrication, pulp and paper, oil and gas (upstream/downstream), information technology, logistics, advanced materials/nanotechnology, chemicals and automotive. Additionally, he has experience in Chinese enterprise restructure, establishing Chinese holding companies, and funding mechanisms for Chinese technology start-ups.

Ed is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the US China Business Council. He is a founding sponsor of the China Economic and Technology Alliance as well as a joint MBA program in China between Renmin University in Beijing and the State University of Buffalo, NY. In December 2000, Ed was presented the Great Wall Friendship Award from the Mayor of Beijing on behalf of the Municipality .

Ed obtained a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Northwestern University. He has lectured at Yale University, Rice University, the State University of Buffalo, NY, Renmin University, and Jiatong University in Shanghai.