Timothy Beardson is the Chairman of Ilex Partners Limited, an investment banking firm specializing in linking China with the West. During 1984-99, Timothy Beardson founded and later sold Crosby Financial Holdings, which became the largest independent investment bank in the Far East. In 1989, it was the first foreign investment bank licensed in China and later helped start the Shanghai Stock Exchange. He is interested in coaching young entrepreneurs and is the Chairman of the China Oxford Scholarship Fund which provides financial support to highly talented Chinese graduates from disadvantaged families to study at Oxford University. He is also a principal shareholder in Gatcombe which is a consultancy firm focusing on high quality educational advice to Chinesefamilies. He addresses economic and strategic issues at events such as the World Economic Forum at Davos and speaks frequently to governments, universities, boards, the military and central banks. He is Chairman of China Outlook, the new internet-based newsletter, specialising in high quality writing on China’s future. He is frequently interviewed on television and wireless.
Mr. Beardson spoke for YCW Beijing on Sep. 17 about his new book “Stumbling Giant: The Threats to China’s Future“. The book is a multidisciplinary discussion of the threats to China‘s continuing rise, presents bold policy prescriptions addressing these challenges and explains why without substantial reform China is unlikely to replace America as the next superpower. The book explores whether China can go from low-cost manufacturing to innovation, whether it can rescue its environment, the current dysfunctionality of the financial system, the consequences of a defective welfare structure, the evolving role of the Communist Party and, especially, the impact of a looming demographic crisis. The narrative also confronts issues such as the engagement with Africa, cyber hostility, relationships with neighbours, China’s behaviour in the world and its future use of power.
