We picked the Asia Society for Asset International’s CEO luncheon in HK for numerous reasons. First, John Rockefeller III founded the Asia Society in New York on Park Avenue in 1956 to foster exchange and collaboration across the arts, business, culture, education and policy. Also, the first international offshoot (there are 11) was the Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK) in 1990 by a group of Hong Kong community leaders, led by Sir Quo-Wei Lee, then chairman of Hang Seng Bank.

It is a gorgeous space right in central, yet removed as an oasis with nothing but green surrounding the private houses.

Rockefeller’s vision has come full circle with Hillary Clinton’s recent piece in Foreign Policy on the US and her need to “pivot to Asia” in the 21st century: “America’s Pacific Century”

While 97% of the events at the society are public, the CEO luncheon was an off the record private event to exchange views on the globalization of the asset management industry and the respective roles of the US and Asia.

Asset International chairman Jim Casella hosted the event, introducing additions to Strategic Insight’s HK team beyond the existing group of analysts. He also pointed towards the large existing business in Australia with Plan for Life and how it ties into the region at large. Other expansion efforts for Asia include aiCIO (where I write a global analyst column), and Philanthropy Management.

Jim gave an overview of how the company has developed more global initiatives in 2012, followed by my State of the Asia Asset Management industry and an informal lunch discussion with the CEOs on key challenges and opportunities for 2013 and beyond.

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(c) Enskat Associates 2012