Introduction
Trading partners
The US and the UK are the
largest foreign investors in each other’s
countries. The stock of US foreign direct investment
in the UK totaled $273bn at the end of 2003. The
US remained the most popular destination for new
UK outward direct investment in 2003, with about
45% of the total |
BABi stands at the heart of the business
relationship between the US and the UK and Continental
Europe, with a membership of more than 700 companies and
4,500 executives in New York and London, and business
networks covering 60 other European and American cities.
British and American companies are the world’s largest
outward investors, and by far the largest investors in
each other’s economies. The US/UK business relationship
is the largest between any two countries; and New York
and London provide the main transatlantic business hubs
for European and American companies respectively.
Our members include many of the world’s largest
multinationals, as well as hundreds of middle-market companies.
Membership benefits
We leverage the strengths of our membership base and strategic
position to provide a broad range of targeted services
to help our members build and manage their business. These
include:
-
“Through its
extensive North American and
European networks, BABi offers its members great
business opportunities far beyond its home bases
of New York and London”
Aidan Walsh, Partner
in Charge (International),
KPMG |
Platforms to promote their brand,
services and products to a high-level transatlantic
business audience
- Access to business and government
leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, and to potential
clients and partners
- Business intelligence and strategies
to inform their planning and decision-making
- Business facilities to support
the growth and management of their business
- Occasions and events for high-quality
business networking and client entertainment
- A voice with governments on policy
issues that impact their business
We deliver these services
through our BABi Leadership Access and BABi Business
Support Programmes.
BABi Leadership Access
Through BABi Leadership Access, we offer our members
the opportunity to meet and interact with business,
government and opinion-leaders at more than 100 occasions
annually.
Our programme includes:
-
“BABi does
a great job of helping US and British
companies build their transatlantic business.
Together with my colleagues on its International
Advisory Board, I am pleased to support it”
Sir Martin Sorrell,
Chief Executive, WPP |
Chief Executive Officer presentations
by business leaders such as Jean-Claude Trichet, Steve
Ridgeway, Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Mervyn King
- Ministerial/Ambassadorial briefings
with US/UK/ European Union (EU) Cabinet Ministers,
Ambassadors and senior officials
- Business briefings by industry
experts and opinion-leaders, such as the editors-in-chief
of prestigious publications including the Financial
Times, Business Week and Economist
- Leadership forums and roundtables
to discuss specific business challenges and opportunities
- High-level networking and client
entertainment events at venues such as the House of
Commons, United Nations, Ambassadorial Residences
and leading hotels, golf clubs, and retail stores
We also provide our members with
access to information and influence on US/UK/EU policy
issues that impact their business, through our briefings
on policy developments and our representations to government
leaders on behalf of our members.
Further highlights, in addition to our main business
programme, include:
Transatlantic Business Awards
Each year, at a gala dinner in New York, BABi honours
the chief executives of two major multinationals and
two entrepreneurial companies for their contribution
to transatlantic business. Since its launch in 1995,
this dinner has become recognised as the premier event
in the transatlantic business calendar.
Channing Corporate Citizenship Awards
Dinner
“BABi is an outstanding
organisation. It plays
a key role in furthering US and UK business
interests by promoting an open trading
environment in partnership with both our
governments. We wholeheartedly support BABi and
its work.”
William Farish, former
US Ambassador to the
UK, and Sir David Manning, HM Ambassador to the
US |
This prestigious award is presented
annually in London and recognises business leaders that
not only have an outstanding track record in corporate
citizenship, but also lead international efforts to engage
with the challenges of corporate responsibility and governance..
Annual Holiday Luncheon
On both sides of the Atlantic, BABi’s Holiday Luncheons,
which are held in December, have been one of our largest
and most popular events for more than 40 years. Each year,
the luncheons manage to attracte nearly 1,000 executives.
BABi Business Support
Through BABi Business Support, we offer a full portfolio
of programmes to advance the business goals of all our
members.
We do this by helping them:
-
“For major
multinationals like AIG, as well
as middle-market companies, BABi offers
outstanding opportunities for high-quality
networking and business development.”
Martin Sullivan,
Chief Executive, AIG |
Raise their business profile with
the business communities on both sides of the Atlantic,
through our events and publications
- Market their services and products
to our members through our website, publications,
direct mail and “member-to-member” programmes
- Develop business through targeted
networking at our events, personalised introductions
and referrals, and our Bureau Van Dijk and membership
databases
- Manage their transatlantic operations
by using our visa and cross-cultural services to relocate
their employees, and our MemberSpace to conduct business
in Midtown Manhattan and Mayfair, London.
Our networks
“We have been most
impressed by the high calibre of BABi events, which
address timely issues important to any company involved
in transatlantic business, and provide outstanding
networking and client entertainment opportunities”
Brian McBride, Managing
Director, T-Mobile (UK) |
BABi incorporates the American Chamber
of Commerce (UK) and British-American Chamber of Commerce
(New York/London), which merged in 2000. As a not-for-profit
membership organisation, we are dedicated to serving our
members and are governed by a transatlantic Board of Directors,
elected by our members.
We enjoy strong support from our International Advisory
Board, which consists of leaders of over 50 major multinational
companies, as well as from the UK and US governments.
We also offer several levels of membership, designed to
meet the needs and interests of different types and sizes
of company.
“BABi brings real
value to its member
companies by providing them with an
important forum for policy debate and an
influential voice with government on
key policy issues.”
Charles Macfarlane,
Executive Director Alliances,
Licensing & Acquisitions –
Global Health Care, Procter & Gamble |
We also provide all our members with
access to much broader American and European business
networks, achieved through our active participation in:
- British-American Business Council
(BABC), with chapters in 31 major cities throughout
North America and the UK, enabling BABi members to
participate in the programmes and access the membership
databases of all these chapters
- US Chamber of Commerce and its
European Council of American Chambers of Commerce
(ECACC), with a presence in 32 cities throughout Europe
Board
of Directors
Ian Stopps CBE,
Chairman, BABi and Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin
UK Ltd
Graham Broyd, Deputy
Chairman, BABi and Country Manager, North America,
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
Richard Fursland OBE,
Chief Executive, BABi
Alison Holmes,
Managing Director, BABi |
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