Biography
I retired as Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited , Hang Seng Bank Ltd., and as a main board Director of HSBC Holdings in 2005 after 37 years with the HSBC Group, all of which was spent in the Middle and Far East. I currently hold a number of advisory positions and directorships, including:
- Senior Adviser to PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Non-Executive Chairman of Noble Group
- Chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- Director of Champion Reit
- Director of China Central Properties
I was appointed in 2008 by President Lee Myung Bak of South Korea as a Member of, and Special Adviser to, the Korea National Competitiveness Council, Office of the President; I believe the first foreigner to hold such a position. President Lee has ambitious plans for opening the Korean economy. In addition, I am a Special Adviser on International Affairs to the Jeju Provincial Government.
I recently stepped down as Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and from the Board of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, due to the pressure of my international travel. I remain an Honorary Steward and Voting Member of the Jockey Club.
I am a former Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a Founding Member of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council, which I chaired for four years, an Adviser to Unisys, in addition to a number of Government, professional and community appointments in Hong Kong and Overseas. I am also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIB)
Awards & Accolades
- Commander of the British Empire (CBE) - for contribution to banking
- Gold Bauhinia Star awarded by the Government of Hong Kong SAR (2004)
- Justice of the Peace.
- Honorary DBA from the City University of Hong Kong
- DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Person of the Year (2003)
- Honorary Citizen of Seoul in recognition of my work for the city.
- Lifetime Achievement award by the Asian Banker (2006)
