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Prepared Exclusively for FFI Members
Meet the 2023 Nominees for the FFI Board of Directors
June 23, 2023
FFI on Friday; June 23, 2023 cover
T

he FFI Board of Directors provides strategic vision and oversight for the development of the organization. Over the past few months, the 2023 Nominating Committee has solicited suggestions for nominees and interviews with potential candidates have been held. The Committee is pleased to announce the following nominees for four-year terms on the FFI Board of Directors. Voting will be conducted by electronic ballot, which will be sent to FFI members in September. New board members will take office following the annual meeting, which will be held virtually on November 7 at 9:30 AM Eastern Time.

Meet the 2023 Nominees

Jeremy Cheng headshot

Jeremy Cheng

Jeremy Cheng, FFI Fellow, is Founder of GEN+ Family Business Advisory & Research and is also a doctoral researcher at the Center of Family Business at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Jeremy is Founding Chair of the FFI Asian Circle Virtual Study Group; GEN faculty member; one of the 2020 grant recipients of the 2086 Society; and recipient of the 2021 Barbara Hollander Award. He served global survey and case committees of the Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) Project Global Consortium. Jeremy advises a few ethnic Chinese families-in-business, family offices, and professional firms in Asia. His research and practice focus on family governance, family entrepreneurship, and family offices.

Statement of Purpose

FFI brings together great wisdom in our field and grows a strong global platform for generous sharing. I have benefited immensely from FFI’s work to “Educate, Connect, and Inspire,” and I am truly grateful for the opportunity, if given, to serve the community I love. I see the importance of sustaining the proud legacy of our community while engaging new ideas from emerging professions; nurturing rising-generation advisors who co-create our shared future as a profession; and bridging gaps between advisors, educators, families, and policymakers. I hope to join the collective effort of the Board to achieve these goals, continue to connect FFI members between East and West, and expand FFI’s presence in Asia.
Helena von der Esch headshot
Helena von der Esch
Helena von der Esch, FFI Fellow and GEN Faculty member, is a senior family advisor at Formue. Prior to her career in advising, she spent 15 years in the publishing industry as a marketing and sales manager, demonstrating profound marketing and brand skills with several management leadership positions within family-owned publishing houses. Mrs. von der Esch entered the family enterprise advisory field through FBN Sweden. She joined the global consultant firm Grant Thornton as advisor to family businesses and was a member of the international group of experts that launched a global program for Grant Thornton family business clients. She is a highly appreciated moderator and speaker, frequently invited to speak about owners, family wealth, and family business, as well as a columnist for the Scandinavian CEO Magazine. She served as Chair on the Board of Directors to Pratham Sweden.

She holds a BA in Philosophy from Stockholm University, and she studied organizational behavior at Pepperdine University, CA, and managing professional services at Stockholm School of Economics Executive School. She trained as a mediator at Strauss Law School, Pepperdine University.

Statement of Purpose

FFI is the community of practitioners and researchers, for practitioners and researchers, in the field of family enterprises, where inspiration and exchange play a significant role as the world looks for future sustainable owners and leaders. Already at my first attendance to a FFI Global Conference more than ten years ago, it immediately filled the purpose professionally and personally. As a member of the FFI Board, I would look forward with enthusiasm to collaborating and further developing FFI, in accordance with expectations from all stakeholders of this valuable and highly appreciated global community. 
Bilal Zein headshot

Bilal Zein

Bilal Zein, ACFBA/ACFWA, is the head of a London Single Family Office he set up in 2001. The SFO covers a wide range of services, namely wealth management, investment strategies and financial planning, governance, tax and trusts, strategic advice, philanthropy, lifestyle, private collections, household management, and concierge services.

He is a C-Level executive across several sectors (engineering, trading, waste management, real estate, and hospitality) throughout the EMEA region, as well as a board member of direct investments. Bilal has a particular interest in family businesses, family dynamics, and governance, along with succession issues. He takes an integrated approach to family wealth management and transfer with risk mitigation. He is an advisory board member of a multi-family club, a Family Office advisory, and a fintech start up.

Bilal holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, an MBA from ESCP, and the IOD’s Diploma. He earned his TEP designation from STEP’s Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advising and holds FFI Advanced Certificates in both Family Business and Family Wealth Advising.

Statement of Purpose

Becoming involved with FFI proved to be integral in enhancing my understanding of the world that I am passionate about: families and businesses from the professional advisors’ perspective. The important aspects of education, research, and connecting with peers in a safe space, alongside the resources and introduction to sector experts that FFI facilitates, are invaluable to the development of a strong and resilient family business advisory community.

If chosen to join the board, I would be privileged to serve alongside respected colleagues to assist in furthering the growth journey of FFI, and to provide insights based on my years of career experience in a family business and family office as well. With the best interests of the organization, its stakeholders, and the wider community in mind, I would aim through collaboration with the other board members to make sound decisions, inspire excellence, and help expand FFI’s exposure and presence throughout my European and MENA network.

2023 Nominating Committee

Thank you to the FFI members who participated in this process and especially to the 2023 Nominating Committee for its selection of these candidates:

Patricia Angusco-chair
Angus Advisory
Columbia Business School

Richa Aroraco-chair
KPMG Family Office

Nicholas Jacob
Forsters LLP

Linda Murphy
University College Cork

Asher Noor
Odyssey SFO

Debbie Bing, ex officio
CFAR

Previous Edition
FFI on Friday; June 16, 2023 cover
We are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the FFI GEN scholarships! We thank the generous sponsors of these awards for ensuring that professionals in the field receive the outstanding interdisciplinary education for which FFI has become known globally.
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