Navigating Business in China – An Exchange with a Global CEO’s Perspective

13 Mar 2024 12:00 - 14:30

This event is part of the Chamber’s Global Visionary series, dedicated to fostering robust business connections, providing invaluable global business insights, and facilitating meaningful interactions among Chamber members and distinguished visiting global senior management and VIPs.

We are delighted to invite you to a business roundtable with William Beardmore-Gray, Matt Tweedie, Karen Bowes and Craig Shute on Wednesday, 13 March, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm.

This roundtable is part of our Global Visionary series, which is designed to cultivate robust business connections, amplify access to global business insights, and facilitate meaningful interactions among our esteemed members and esteemed visiting global senior management/VIPs.

China has consistently served as one of the pivotal engines driving the global economy, owing to its expansive market and rapidly evolving business landscape that entices global enterprises to invest and collaborate. However, amidst shifting global trade dynamics, the incessant emergence of technological innovations, and geopolitical complexities, China’s business environment now confronts fresh opportunities and challenges. In this event, we cordially invite four distinguished leaders from Knight Frank, a well-known global property consultancy, to provide their invaluable international perspectives on the Chinese market. Furthermore, we extend a sincere invitation to representatives of foreign multinational corporations engaged in business operations within China to partake in this event, fostering a collective exploration of the opportunities and challenges presented by the current business climate in China.

This session is convened under strict Chatham House rules to facilitate open discussion and encourage the establishment of a supportive network of British and international companies.

This event is by invitation only.

William Beardmore-Gray

Knight Frank Senior Partner and Group Chair

As Chair of the Knight Frank Group Executive Board, William Beardmore-Gray drives and implements the group’s global strategy.

William joined Knight Frank in 1991 and has more than 30 years’ experience providing advice to clients both in London and throughout Knight Frank’s global network. After gaining extensive experience working with investors, developers and occupiers across the London market, he was elected as head of the Occupier Strategy and Solutions Global Service Line in 2013 and subsequently as Senior Partner and Group Chair in 2022.

William has been the chair of the people board at Knight Frank since 2018 and is passionate about achieving greater diversity in all areas across the business and the broader real estate environment.

Matt Tweedie

Knight Frank Partner, CFO, Head of Business Services

Matt joined Knight Frank in 2019 as a Proprietary Partner and took over as Chief Financial Officer in 2020. He has a degree in planning and economics and has spent time working in professional practice as a qualified chartered accountant in the retail and IT sectors. Most recently, he spent 13 years as the CFO of global engineering firm Arup.

Karen Bowes

Knight Frank Group Chief People Officer

Karen Bowes joined Knight Frank from the Consumer Banking & Payments division at Barclays, where she was HR Managing Director. Prior to that, she spent 18 years at Capital One where she was instrumental in developing their UK and international HR functions.

With the depth of her experience and communication style, Karen continuously provides important strategic advice to the GEB as Knight Frank continues to develop its culture and strategy to ensure it attracts, develops and retains the best people.

Craig Shute

Knight Frank Greater China Chief Executive Officer

Craig leads Knight Frank’s Greater China Board while overseeing the operation of Knight Frank’s business in Greater China.

He has had an extensive senior management career and more than 25 years of leadership experience in the property industry in Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and the US.

Prior to joining Knight Frank, he was the Managing Director of JLL in Victoria, Australia, from 2020 to 2023, and a member of their Australian Executive Committee. From 2017 to 2019, he was the National Director of Capital Markets at Colliers in Australia.

Before returning to his home country in 2016, for 17 years, Craig led CBRE offices in Adelaide, San Diego and Las Vegas. Between 2008 and 2016, he was the Senior Managing Director of CBRE’s Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan business, and a member of CBRE’s APAC Board.

12:00 PM-12:30 PM: Registration
12:30 PM-2:30 PM: Roundtable event with lunch

* BritCham Shanghai serves the right to alter the above schedule at any time.

BritCham Shanghai is an organisation proudly run by its members — for its members. Whether your business is based in China or overseas, we welcome you to be part of our community. Let's connect, and become a member today.