Hong Kong Speakers
Overview Speakers Venue Apply to Attend
Doing Business in Brazil: New Trajectories for Growth
September 16, Mandarin Oriental, Central, Hong Kong
Geoff Dyer
China Bureau Chief
Financial Times
Geoff Dyer is the China bureau chief for the Financial Times, based in Beijing, where he covers Chinese politics, economics and foreign policy and is a regular column-writer.
Before moving to Beijing in 2008, he was based for the paper in London and then Shanghai for three years. He was also the FT's Brazil correspondent for five years from 1997, based in Sao Paulo, where he covered many of the key reforms which have put Brazil is such a strong position today, as well as the 1999 currency crisis.
He has a BA from Cambridge University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC and Bologna.
Michael Geoghegan, CBE
Group Chief Executive
HSBC Holdings
Chairman
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Michael Geoghegan became Group Chief Executive of HSBC Holdings plc in 2006. In February 2010, he also became Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
Mr Geoghegan has been a Director of HSBC Holdings plc since March 2004. He was appointed Chairman and a Director of HSBC Bank Canada in February 2007 and Deputy Chairman of HSBC Bank plc in March 2006. He is also a Director of HSBC Latin America Holdings (UK) Limited since June 2008, and of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. since August 2006.
He joined HSBC in 1973 and has spent 12 years in North and South America, eight years in Asia, seven years in the Middle East and three years in Europe. His principal office is now in Hong Kong.
Mr Geoghegan arrived in Brazil in March 1997 to establish the Groups operations in the country following the creation of Banco HSBC Bamerindus S.A. He was appointed a Group General Manager of HSBC Holdings plc in the same year.
In January 2000 he became responsible for all HSBC businesses throughout South America and chaired the Groups Regional Executive Committee.
In October 2000 he became President of HSBC Investment Bank Brasil which resulted from the Groups acquisition of CCF (now HSBC France) and the incorporation of certain activities of HSBC Brasil.
In June 2003 he was honoured with a CBE (Commander of The British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his contribution to British business interests in Brazil.
Nizan Guanaes
Chairman
Grupo ABC
Nizan Guanaes is one of Brazil's leading communications entrepreneurs and the chairman of Grupo ABC de Comunicação, headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil.
Nizan Guanaes was recently profiled in the Financial Times as an integral part of Brazil's rise and views himself as an ambassador for his country. The chairman of Grupo ABC, Brazil's largest advertising and marketing services group, believes the expansion of ABC abroad is helping to promote Brazil and transform the country's economic role. Mr. Guanaes argues that Brazil should seize the opportunity for growth and development. "Brazil wants to know, and be known," he says.
He started his career in Advertising as a copywriter. Internationally recognised for his prominent role in advertising campaigns, such as 'Hitler' for the newspaper Folha de São Paulo, Mr. Guanaes has increasingly gained recognition for his business enterprises over the last few years.
With lifelong partner João Augusto Valente and a group of investors, he founded the first free-of-charge internet portal in Brazil, iG. A year later he was elected 'Businessman of the Year' by prestigious e-business magazine InfoExame, interviewed by the New York Times, and featured on Forbes cover page.
Ricardo Leiman
CEO
The Noble Group
Ricardo Leiman is Chief Executive Officer of Noble Group Limited (SGX: N21) appointed on January 1, 2010. He joined the company on April 1, 2006 as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Leiman started his career with Credit Lyonnais Bank in Brazil followed by management positions with Louis Dreyfus in Brazil, Eximcoop in the Netherlands and Trader Classified Media in London and Paris. In 2002, he rejoined Louis Dreyfus as Chief Operating Officer of North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia, and later served as Chief Operating Officer of Soft Commodities. He has been a Director of Noble Group Limited since April 2009.
Mr. Leiman holds Masters of Business Administration from the University of Rochester NY, USA and the University of Nyenrode, the Netherlands as well as an Economics degree from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
HSBC is sponsoring Festival Brazil, a global celebration of contemporary Brazil in 2010
Web header image: Unidos da Tijuca samba school at the Sambodrome - Brazil - February 14, 2010
