Offline Event | British Business Briefing Shanghai 2020 Q2

The British Business Briefing series runs every quarter and is designed to update CBBC members on important policy changes, economic trends, and high-level visits that affect British businesses in China. The Briefings provide a forum for CBBC members to engage with CBBC stakeholders, exchange views on trending topics, and network with each other.

The China-Britain Business Council (“CBBC”) is delighted to invite our members to join our first offline event of 2020, the second quarter British Business Briefing in Shanghai on Friday 31st July at CBBC Premium Member, PwC’s Innovation Centre in Xintiandi Shanghai.

The first half of 2020 has been challenging both politically and financially as the world adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic that has fundamentally disrupted the global economy, impacting businesses across all industries and sectors.

Digital transformation has become more important than ever and this process has been accelerated further by the crisis. Companies that have been able to pivot effectively to respond to the challenge and implement a digital strategy have been able to set in place foundations for futureproofing their businesses. ZHANG Yue, Lead Consultant of ThoughtWorks will share insights on how companies can build up their organisational capabilities and innovative models in order to tackle the challenges faced in the digital age.

The practicalities of doing business in China will be covered and we are delighted to welcome Shane Sang, Tax Partner, PwC Shanghai to share practical guidance on repatriating funds out of China.

TMF Group will also present the China findings of their recently launched Global Business Complexity Index which analyses three key areas of business operations - rules, regulations and penalties; accounting and tax; and staffing.

In addition, we are delighted to have the Consul General of the British Consulate-General in Shanghai, Chris Wood, share an update on current UK-China affairs.

We look forward to you joining us.

Date: Friday 31st July 2020

Time: 14:00-17:00 (registration starts from 14:00)

Location: PwC Innovation Centre, 3/F, Infinitus Mall, 168 Hubin Road, near Ji'nan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 

（普华永道创新中心，上海市湖滨路168号无限极荟3楼）

Open to: CBBC Members only with preferential access for Premium and Corporate Members 

How to Register

Please scan the QR code below, or send an email to [e-mail]

to book your place. 

Agenda

14:00 

Registration & Networking

14:30

Welcome Remarks – Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China Operations & China Chief Representative, China-Britain Business Council

14:35 

Welcome Remarks – Jenny Chong, International Tax Services Partner, Asia-Pacific Leader, PwC Shanghai

14:40

UK-China State of Affairs – Chris Wood, Consul General, British Consulate-General Shanghai

15:00 

Update on CBBC Activities – MA Weifeng, Director, Stakeholder Relations, Shanghai, China-Britain Business Council

15:10 

Coffee Break & Networking

15:30 

Technology Driven Digital Transformation of Large Enterprises in China – ZHANG Yue, Lead Consultant, ThoughtWorks

15:55

Briefing on the Global Business Complexity Index – Daria Kruk, Senior Manager, Global Business Development, TMF 

16:15 

Practicalities of Repatriating Funds Out of China – Shane Sang, Tax Partner, PwC Shanghai

16:35 

Q&A

17:00 

Close of Event

Speakers

Tom Simpson

Managing Director

China Operations & China Chief Representative

China-Britain Business Council 

Tom Simpson is the Managing Director, China Operations & China Chief Representative at the China Britain-Business Council overseeing our thirteen offices in China based out of Beijing.

Tom has been at the China-Britain Business Council (“CBBC”) since joining in 2013 as Guangzhou Chief Representative, Assistant Director for South China. In 2015, he moved to our Beijing office to take on the role of Director, Creative Industries & Sports, before being promoted to Senior Director, Service Delivery (China), in early 2018 in a role managing all eight of CBBC’s sector teams and a team of 25 in five locations across China.

Tom has previously served as the Chongqing General Manager for the British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China from 2010 to 2011, and General Manager of the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong from 2011 to 2013, where he was based in Guangzhou.

Tom is originally from Edinburgh and attended Leeds University where he studied Chinese.

Jenny Chong

International Tax Services Partner

Asia Pacific Leader

PwC Shanghai

Jenny Chong is PwC’s Asia Pacific International Tax Services Leader based in PwC China, Shanghai office. Jenny has worked for PwC’s US and China firms for over 19 years. She has accumulated extensive experience in advising and implementing cross-border transactions associated with international tax planning, M&A, expansion and structuring, corporate reorganisation and divesture, efficient financing planning, as well as structuring inter-company transactions.

Since starting work in Shanghai for PwC China in 2007, Jenny has provided investment advice for global enterprises on investments in Asia, and in particular, on investment strategies in China.  She has provided professional advice for many Fortune 500 Companies. Jenny’s clients include enterprises in industries such as resources, real estate, retail and consumer products, manufacturing, services, high-tech and mutual funds.

Jenny has worked on various large tax structuring projects for private and large state-owned Chinese enterprises making overseas acquisitions or investment.  She has accumulated extensive experience in advising Chinese clients in efficient foreign holding company structures, financing and operational structures in outbound investment.

Jenny is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia, USA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”). 

Chris Wood

British Consul-General

Shanghai

Born in Wolverhampton, Chris graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1981 and joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ("FCO"). Previous roles with the FCO include as HM Consul-General Guangzhou (2003-6); Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing (2008-12); and Director, British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei (2013-16). Prior to his current role, Chris was Deputy Head, EU Delegation to China for the European External Action Service. Chris has also worked at the Cabinet Office and the Department of the Environment (from May 1997 Department of the Environment, Transport & the Regions). 

MA Weifeng

Director

Stakeholder Relations, Shanghai 

China-Britain Business Council 

MA Weifeng joined CBBC in 2016 and is currently Director Stakeholder Relations based in Shanghai. He manages CBBC’s stakeholder relations in Shanghai and a number of key financial and professional services members. His previous roles within CBBC include Director China Outbound and Sector Lead for Financial and Professional Services.

Weifeng has working experiences in the Chinese public sector and the private sector in the UK. He previously worked as Associate Client Advisor of UBS Wealth Management London looking after HNI clients from Greater China. Before that, he worked at China Council for the Promotion of International Trade ("CCPIT") Head Office and UK Representative Office. Weifeng obtained his Master of Science in International Business Economics at University of Westminster.

ZHANG Yue

Lead Consultant

ThoughtWorks

ZHANG Yue (Nick) is a Lead Consultant at ThoughtWorks, where he is an expert in digital transformation. He has a Master’s in Computer Science and an MBA. With more than 11 years of experience in the high-tech industry, he has an in-depth understanding and rich experience in Agile & DevOps adoption, lean product management, product innovation mechanism establishment, product incubation, organisational transformation, and change management of large enterprises.

Over the past few years, he has mainly provided consulting service for customers in the banking, telecommunications and auto industry, for banking clients, including state-owned banks, national joint-stock banks and foreign banks: focusing on lean and agile transformation, organisational innovation mechanisms & implementation.

Daria Kruk

Senior Manager

Global Business Development

TMF

Having spent more than a decade working in China, Daria has gained a vast experience in Foreign Direct Investment advisory, including pre-investment assessment, corporate services, accounting and exit strategy, as well as international corporate compliance to accounting, HR and legal related matters for well-known luxury and premium fashion brands in China.

Prior joining TMF Group, she worked in a leading global law firm and for an international consulting group where she headed the Corporate Service Team in Greater China.

At TMF Group Daria is dedicated to provide entry market advisory and legal entity establishment services to foreign enterprises and individuals looking to tap into global markets, as well as with the ongoing regulatory compliance services, including corporate, tax, accounting, and HRP.

She is fluent in six languages, including Mandarin and English.

Shane Sang

Tax Partner

PwC Shanghai

Shane is a Tax Partner at PwC Shanghai. He joined the firm in 2007 and has been providing both business regulatory/tax advisory services and M&A related tax services including buy/sell side tax due diligence, pre-deal structuring, deal negotiation, post-deal integration and exit tax support since then.

Shane holds up to date and relevant knowledge on cross-border acquisitions/ restructuring, other company restructuring, financing, negotiation support and evaluation of exit options. Shane is familiar with the issues which arise in different kinds of deals within various industries, including E-commerce platforms, online marketing, online games, and retailing and distribution industries.

Moreover, Shane is also familiar with the PRC tax environment and how governing policies are interpreted from a practical point of view.

Shane obtained his Bachelor of Commerce at The University of Melbourne.  He is a member of CPA Australia.

Upcoming Events

22nd July 2020

24th July 2020

28th July 2020

In the News

Latest News

www.cbbc.org

The China-Britain Business Council ("CBBC") is the UK’s national business network promoting trade and investment with China. Since 1954 we have acted as the independent voice of business, located at the heart of the action, engaging across both countries in every sector and region. We support our members and partners by delivering the advice, analysis and access which they need in order to seize the China opportunity. Our diverse membership includes leading UK companies and universities, many of the UK’s most dynamic SMEs, and an ever increasing number of Chinese companies exporting to and investing in the UK.

英中贸易协会（“CBBC”）是英国促进对华贸易和投资的国家级商业贸易网络。自1954年以来，我们一直作为独立的商业声音，处在行动的核心位置参与两国在每个行业和地区的合作。为了协助我们的会员与合作伙伴更好地抓住中国的商业机遇，英中贸易协会不遗余力地为其提供所需的商业建议、解析与渠道。我们的会员包括众多英国领先的公司与知名大学、英国最具活力的中小企业，以及越来越多向英国出口和在英国投资的中国企业等。