The City of London Corporation today appointed Sherry Madera, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Director General at the British Embassy in Beijing, as the City’s Special Adviser for Asia.

Her work will further enhance the City’s comprehensive and sustainable engagement with its Asian partners. She will focus her work on China but will also have reach in India and Singapore.

Sherry joins the City from the Department for International Trade, where she has been based in China for the past two and a half years. She was responsible for shaping policy and promoting trade and investment between the UK and China. Prior to working for the UK Government, Sherry was an investment banker and entrepreneur who held a portfolio of Executive and Non-Executive positions.

The main responsibility of the role is to:

• Take a leading role in policy, trade and investment and engagement with Asia, in particular with China. This will support the work of the Lord Mayor and Policy Chairman.

• Engage with senior officials and regulators in Asia to influence policies and develop long-term relationships for the City. This will include participation in the financial services dialogues between the UK and China, as well as India and Singapore;

• Maximise the City’s impact and achieve the right level of engagement in Asia on behalf of the UK’s financial and professional services industry;

• Share with the UK Government and industries, Asia’s policy and priorities in the areas of financial and professional services, and work in partnership with the Government to identify opportunities in these areas for the benefit of the wider UK economy;

• Act as one of the City’s spokespeople on Asia related issues.

  Mark Boleat, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said:

  “Now more than ever we are looking to build on our economic relationships with key global financial markets - both in Europe and globally. Following the Brexit vote we need to make sure we are fully engaged with financial markets in Asia. We believe that Sherry’s expertise and experience will really drive this work forward and will enhance the City’s presence in Asia.”

  Sherry Madera said:

  “The City is a global financial centre underpinned by its outward-looking approach and extensive international engagement. Now is an excellent time to work with Asia to take London's commitment to global business and policy further. I’m delighted to be taking up this new role and looking forward to forging deep and productive business ties between the City and Asia.”

Sherry will lead the Corporation’s three Asian offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Mumbai to promote the interests of UK-based financial and professional services in this region. She will officially take up the post from late January 2017. Her appointment is in line with the arrangements of the Special Representative of the City to the EU, Jeremy Browne, who took up his role in 2015.

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of around £20 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
• We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.
• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.