As Asia’s family enterprises confront succession and reinvention, the Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office is shaping future ready leaders for long term impact.
Family businesses are the backbone of Asia’s economy, yet many are reaching a pivotal crossroads. As founders step back and new generations step forward, the challenge is no longer simply about preserving wealth—it is about sustaining values, harmony, and purpose over time. The Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office was the earliest research center in Asia that was established to help family enterprises and family offices navigate this transition and build legacies that endure.
“Managing a multi-generational legacy is about preserving the harmony, values, and wealth of the family,” said Professor Roger KING, Senior Advisor of the Center. “Asia’s unique cultural landscape demands an approach tailored for the region, rather than a replication of Western models.”
Serving as an intellectual hub, the Center connects academic research with real-world practice. “By advancing and sharing knowledge in this sector, our Center empowers leaders of family businesses and family offices to contribute positively to their communities,” Professor King said. “We bring together academics, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange insights, experiences, and practical knowledge essential for navigating the future.”
Family business leadership extends far beyond financial performance. Governance, family education, succession planning, philanthropy and impact investing all play critical roles in sustaining long-term success. According to Professor Winnie PENG, Director of the Center, family offices are often misunderstood. “More than wealth managers, family offices are long-term stewards of family values and social impact,” she said. “As the host to most of Asia's mature family offices, Hong Kong can offer new wealth from Chinese Mainland and elsewhere valuable experience, including both successful and failed cases.”
A central pillar of the Center’s work is talent development for the next generation. Its flagship global family leader succession program equips multi-generational family members with both strategic perspectives and essential soft skills to manage complex generational transitions. These initiatives are further strengthened by the Business School’s MSc program in family office and family business, which provides structured, professional training for future family leaders.
Looking ahead, the Center will continue to deepen understanding of Asia’s family enterprises and family offices, supporting long-term wealth preservation and responsible leadership. Through research, education, and dialogue, it aims to help young family business leaders navigate change, create positive societal impact, and shape enduring legacies for generations to come.
