Course marks over 200 global graduates since launch in 2011

Hong Kong: The first Hong Kong students of the Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma (NED) – a formally accredited, post-graduate level qualification for aspiring and existing non executive directors – will graduate on February 11th. The course is the first of its kind and has been fully booked in London and Hong Kong since its launch in 2011.

Twenty-two senior executives took the six-month course from various industries including logistics, pharmaceuticals, banking, legal and private equity. Delegates came from across Asia: Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Financial Times deputy CEO and global commercial director Ben Hughes said: “The Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma has been an incredibly popular course and a number of our graduates have subsequently taken up roles at well known organisations like Amnesty International, Anglo American and Associated British Foods. We have now certified 215 people through the diploma globally, and see great demand from aspiring students.”

Josephine Price, Co-founder, Anthem Asia: “The FT course allowed me to benchmark my experiences as a board member on public and private companies and non-profits, providing context and insight. As I invest in Myanmar, I see building effective boards underpinning a new generation of successful and sustainable firms in this Southeast Asian frontier market.”

Since the FT NED Diploma was launched in London in 2011, more than 215 people have graduated. It expanded to Hong Kong in 2013 with a curriculum based on the Hong Kong Corporate Governance Code. The course addresses the skills and knowledge needed for any non-executive role, including:

  • The legal liabilities and duties of a non-executive
  • Correct structure and operation of a board
  • Audit and financial reporting
  • Internal control and risk management
  • The behavioural skills necessary to make an effective contribution to a board

All graduates are given lifetime memberships of the FT Non-Executive Director’s Club and are sent fresh content edited by the FT on a fortnightly basis, to keep them updated on relevant news and analysis.

The Hong Kong ceremony will be held at the British Consulate-General’s residence, with honoured guests Mr. Frank Sixt (executive director and group finance director of the Hutchison Whampoa Limited) , Ms. May Tan (vice chairman, Wholesale Bank – Asia and executive director, Standard Chartered Bank HK Ltd.) and Ms. Teresa Ko (China chairman of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.)

For more information, visit http://www.non-execs.com/diploma.

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Notes to editors:

The course includes attendance at the orientation day in Hong Kong, a two-day workshop in Macau, networking sessions, access to online materials and an online support tutor. It also includes examination fees and lifetime membership to The Financial Times Non-Executive Directors’ Club.

For further information about the course, please contact:

Diana David
Corporate Development Director, Financial Times
T: +852 2230 5852
E: diana.david@ft.com

For media inquiries contact:

Gemma Terry
Senior Communications Manager, Financial Times
T: +852 2905 5519
E: gemma.terry@ft.com

About the Financial Times:

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of almost 629,000 (Deloitte assured, Q3 2013). Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving more than 40% of total traffic and a quarter of digital subscriptions. FT education products now serve 34 of the world’s top 50 business schools.

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