Senior mainland banking executives benefit from CityU training
Joan Yip
?Senior executives from Agricultural Bank of China have acquired marketing skills targeting high-end customers on a tailor-made training programme hosted by the College of Business at City University of Hong Kong (CityU). 
Around 400 branch managers attended the five-day executive education programme jointly organised by CityU’s College of Business and Agricultural Bank of China between July and September. In terms of the number of trainees, it is by far the largest senior executive education programme organised by the College. 
Dr Hao Gang, Assistant Dean (International Programmes and Executive Education) in the College of Business, said CityU provided executive education programmes for a number of leading enterprises in China, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Capital Airports Holding Company, HNA Group, and Chongqing International Construction Corporation. The College has also benefited because its teaching staff can enhance teaching practice and learn more about the latest trends and developments in the business sector.
The programme helps participants better understand the needs of high-end customers. It focuses on marketing strategies and market analysis and covers topics including marketing concepts, private banking, risk management of sales, and the use of the internet and social media to attract e-generation consumers. Some participants said that Hong Kong’s financial sector, particularly in the area of private banking, provided valuable reference material for mainland banks.
Agricultural Bank of China is a major commercial bank in mainland China. It was ranked 127th in the global Fortune 500 companies in 2011.
Professor Wei Kwok-kee, Dean of College of Business, said the College is one of the largest business schools in Hong Kong, emphasising that it is committed to building on its collaboration with mainland enterprises to conduct in-depth studies on the mainland’s business models and introduce international business knowledge to the mainland. It was the vision of the College to make contributions that would enhance business development in China, he added.