Mei Xu, MA
Mei Xu is an Asian American entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in the consumer product and wellness industries. Passionate about innovation and infusing a founder’s spirit into conglomerates, universities, and hospitals, Xu is a sought-after speaker, corporate board member, and award-winning author.
Xu created one of the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the United States: Chesapeake Bay Candles. Her passion for innovation and design-driven growth has made her a public spokesperson on entrepreneurship and reshoring since 2012, when she joined 12 other blue-chip CEOs at President Barack Obama’s Insourcing American Jobs Forum at the White House.
Her business achievements have garnered her many awards and accolades, including,
- Forbes magazine’s “Outstanding Women Over 50 with Vision Award” (2021)
- Forbes magazine’s “60 Most Outstanding Chinese in North America” Award (2021)
- Politico’s “Woman of Impact” Award (2019)
- Inc. magazine’s “America’s Fastest-Growing Companies in 2000 and 2001” award
She has served on many corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Children’s National Hospital Foundation and Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc.
Leveraging her industry leadership in fragrance and her passion for wellness and environmental stewardship, Xu founded Concord Fragrances in 2023. Launching in Bloomingdale’s stores and online, BluemeTM, the newly established brand, is a first-in-class “Functional Fragrance” company. BluemeTM uses the latest science-based research and formulas to provide a whole new way to strategically layer scent into consumers’ lives, allowing them to enjoy physiological and emotional benefits while enhancing their well-being.
Not only will her new collection help consumers elevate and scent their personal space, but it also will address the consumer’s drive for sustainability by offering Recandle-refill candles to encourage the reuse of candle vessels. This approach promises to become the new global standard in fragrance-based wellness. As Xu continually works on unlocking the power of our sense of smell, she is constantly thriving in design, innovation, and social entrepreneurship.
She has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018.