Succession Challenges for Asian Family Businesses

Organized by the HKUST-NYU Stern MS in Global Finance Program

About the Seminar

An extraordinary generation of Asian family business owners is aging, throwing up uncomfortable questions about succession and intergenerational wealth management. In Hong Kong, for instance, the family heads of the 50 largest businesses are on average 69 years, and 10 out of 50 are above 80 years. These entrepreneurs have overcome many formidable challenges in building some of the most successful businesses in the world. Succession planning is the final challenge - one that, without sufficient planning, can threat their entire legacy.

In this talk, Professor Kasper Meisner Nielsen from HKUST will address the succession challenges facing Asian family businesses and provide a road map of how this challenge can be overcome successfully. 

In addition, Ms Karen Chan, Vice President - Marketing & Business Development of German Pool, who is a second-generation industrialist, will share her personal stories on succeeding her family business, the challenges she faced and how to overcome them.

*Participants to this seminar are entitled to one hour of continuous professional training (CPT) requirement stipulated by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong.

About the Speakers

Professor Kasper Meisner Nielsen is Associate Professor at HKUST, and Academic Director of the HKUST-NYU Stern MS in Global Finance. He received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees in Economics from the University of Copenhagen.

Professor Nielsen's research interests are corporate governance, entrepreneurial finance, family business, and household finance. His research has featured in international newspapers and magazines including Business Week, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, International Herald Tribune, The Economist, The Times of India, and Wall Street Journal. His work has been published in academic journals including The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Review of Finance, Journal of Corporate Finance and Journal of Banking and Finance.

Ms Karen Chan is a second-generation industrialist who is committed to industry transcendence. While Chan takes it in her stride to invigorate German Pool, she also actively engages in industry development to facilitate a stable ascension of the Hong Kong economy by creating employment opportunities in the city. Chan's business goal is to build a successful century-old business (German Pool celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2015) that Hong Kongers can be proud of. 

Ms Chan is also a keen participant in social affairs with active contributions to the business sector, woman rights groups, youth education organizations, and committees of the HKSAR government.  Chan received her BBA (Finance) and BA (Economics) from the University of Washington, a MSc in Marketing from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a Master of Education from the New York University.

Seminar Rundown

12:30     Registration and Light Lunch
13:00     Welcome and Presentation
13:30     Sharing Session
13:45     Q & A

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