British Business in China: Position Paper 2022 – Future of the Financial Service Sector

Professional experience

• Deal sourcing and execution of advisory and transaction support services to capital market and other corporate transactions in the Asia-Pacific region, including IPOs, introductions and reverse acquisitions, as well as private corporate transactions covering fundraisings (start-up to growth capital), acquisitions, disposals and related due diligence and financing
• Transactions cover China, Hong Kong, Europe, US and UK across a broad sector range
• Tim was trained with KPMG China and UK for nine years and was the Corporate Finance Associated Director of BDO UK before joining Mazars in 2011.

Skills

• In depth knowledge of cross-border M&A transactions, corporate restructuring and China outbound investments
• Business oriented approach enabling analysis of targets in a wide range of industries
• Ability to establish strong relationship with corporate functions of the client and other advisors involved (lawyers, consultants, etc.)
• Capability to manage large projects and teams with an international reach and across departments

Main clients include Haier, Fosun, Bel Group, ICICLE, Imerys, Sonepar, Bureau Veritas, Hisense, Alten, etc.

Maria McDermott is the Asia Business Development representative for Jersey Finance, a non-profit organisation promoting the use of Jersey as an International Finance Centre.

She has over twenty years of experience working in the finance industry and is experienced in investment funds, private wealth, stock exchange listings, compliance, risk management and project management.  She has also undertaken board secretarial, governance and post IPO compliance work for companies listed on stock exchanges in Europe and Asia.

Maria has been based in Asia for the last ten years having transferred to Hong Kong for one of the offshore law firms to develop the fiduciary services business. During her time in Asia she has also worked for various listed entities and financial service providers in Singapore and Shanghai, and is now based full time in Shanghai.

Maria is an Associate Member of the Chartered Governance Institute, formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

She has been a member of the BritCham Shanghai Financial Services Committee since October 2020, and now takes the Vice Chair role in the Committee.

Specialised in global specialty insurance & reinsurance, extensive experience and leading roles with top tier global (re)insurance risk carriers cross continents and business disciplines, covering underwriting, strategy, operation, M&A, investment, platform consolidation and optimisation.
Previous roles include Underwriter at Lloyd’s of London; Head of Greater China for Catlin & XL Catlin Group, also member of Asia Pacific Executive Committee (covering 8 countries and 13 offices across APAC); Assistant President of Fosun Insurance Group; CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Lloyd’s China. Currently President of Thames Investment and Chief Advisor of Zillion Capital.
Graduated from Peking University, Cass Business School and London Business School. Degrees include MSc & EMBA.

Betty Mao is Head of China at abrdn Private Fund Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.  She joined abrdn in 2017, based in Shanghai. Betty has been a key member of abrdn’s China senior management team since 2017, setting up PFM and QDLP business. Betty has been spearheading the development of the Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE) business and leading strategic planning for onshore business expansion. Prior to joining abrdn, Betty was Senior Director of Fund Operation at Gopher Asset Management, responsible for private funds investment operations. Prior to that, she specialised in custody of mutual funds at China Construction Bank. She started her career at PwC focusing on the financial service industry.

Betty graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the Fudan University in Shanghai, China and also is an FRM holder.

Alex Roberts has been working in Shanghai with British-headquartered law firm, Linklaters LLP, since 2012 and previously studied and worked in Beijing (first in 2005). Alex has been involved with the Chamber almost since arriving in Shanghai and am proud to have seen its development over this time with a dedicated group of staff and members. Alex is passionate about continuing to drive British and international business opportunities in China through his legal expertise and network, helping to organise framework for knowledge-sharing events and improving the dialogue between the UK and China for the good of all stakeholders.