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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