British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Message from the President

Dear Members,

It is with personal sadness that I announce our Board Member John Lindfield, is leaving the US and will be resigning from the Board of Directors. While I must admit happiness for his well-deserved, incredible promotion, I also feel a sense of loss to our organization. John has been a committed Board Member for the last five years, and in my tenure with the BABC (at least twice that), we have never had such a committed partner from the Consulate.

John has assisted in bringing through members of the UK government and royal family as well as UK business leaders. In addition, he has generously sponsored numerous events. Most important, John was always available for the consultative phone call, board task or just to provide a smile at our events. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for John, the UK government has also recognized his capabilities, and has announced John will be the next Regional Director for Consular Directorate. He will be responsible for the Consulate Protection teams throughout Northern and Western Europe – a very big job to say the least.

As we extend a heartfelt thank you and farewell to John, please join me as we offer a warm welcome to Amita Randhawa, John’s successor. Amita has moved to NYC from London, and will be taking John’s place as HM Consul and Regional Director, (East Coast USA), UK Trade & Investment USA and as a new Board Member of the BABC of Greater Philadelphia.

Sincerely,
Neil Boyden Tanner
President, BABC of Greater Philadelphia

UKTI and the BABC of Greater Philadelphia

UKTI promotes British business globally by helping UK-based companies expand internationally and helping overseas companies invest in the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its network of specialists in the UK and in British embassies and diplomatic offices throughout the world. UKTI provides companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. Read the rest of this entry

UK & US World Leaders Visit Philadelphia

Not a stranger to Philadelphia, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the “City of Brotherly Love” with a few things on his agenda. Most importantly, Blair was recognized for his steadfast commitment to conflict resolution with the prestigious Liberty Medal award on Monday, September 13, 2010 at the National Constitution Center (NCC). Presenting him with this honor was former President Bill Clinton, chairman of the NCC and 2006 award recipient. The two former world leaders were kept quite busy during their few hours in Philadelphia. Kicking-off the day was an exclusive interview between Clinton and Blair, to which the BABC Executive Committee of the Board of Directors was invited to attend. Read the rest of this entry

Not a stranger to Philadelphia, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the “City of Brotherly Love” with a few things on his agenda. Most importantly, Blair was recognized for his steadfast commitment to conflict resolution with the prestigious Liberty Medal award on Monday, September 13, 2010 at the National Constitution Center (NCC). Presenting him with this honor was former President Bill Clinton, chairman of the NCC and 2006 award recipient. The two former world leaders were kept quite busy during their few hours in Philadelphia. Kicking-off the day was an exclusive interview between Clinton and Blair, to which the BABC Executive Committee of the Board of Directors was invited to attend.

Established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Constitution, the Liberty Medal is awarded annually to men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. The NCC awarded the 2010 Liberty Medal to Tony Blair, who served as Prime Minister for the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Blair has been praised for helping to end the conflict in Northern Ireland, working for peace in the Middle East, supporting the United States after the 9/11 attacks, and establishing the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which supports international charity work while opposing religious extremism.

The entire Board of Directors of the BABC of Greater Philadelphia was invited to sit in complimentary, reserved seats during the Liberty Medal Ceremony at the NCC on Monday, September 13, 2010. Joe Tarsavage, BABC Club Level Board Member from AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. was interviewed by ABC right before the Liberty Medal program began. In addition to the NCC’s Liberty Medal Ceremony and a formal gala that concluded the evening, Blair spoke to an intimate gathering of guests in the early afternoon to discuss his memoir A Journey, a book about the nature and uses of political power that charts the ups and downs of his accomplished career thus far.

The BABC of Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors Executive Committee was invited to participate in this exclusive book event, featuring a conversation between Clinton and Blair. The Executive Committee heard firsthand accounts from the two world leaders about Northern Ireland, the Arab/Israeli conflict, global interdependence, the importance of partnership between nations, and the need to focus on and have faith in younger generations. The BABC group was among a very small number of attendees privileged enough to learn about global politics from the key players themselves. Clinton and Blair candidly discussed anecdotes from their tenure in office, brought the audience up-to-date on current policy in a live setting, and enabled attendees to meet and understand them as real people, with real lives, in an almost private venue.

View event photos

Philadelphia – April 29, 2010 – The British American Business Council (BABC) of Greater Philadelphia, an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, has announced the recent appointment of its new Executive Director, Jane Hirschhorn Rosenberg.

Ms. Rosenberg, 35, brings more than 14 years of marketing and international business experience to the BABC. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she previously served as Assistant Director of the BABC from 1996 to 1999. After receiving a Fulbright Scholarship, she studied post-NAFTA Mexico and pursued her MBA from the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM). Most recently, she was a Manager for Deloitte & Touche’s National Consumer Business Industry Marketing Group.

“The BABC is an invaluable resource to companies doing business overseas, and I am thrilled to be a part of the organization again,” said Ms. Rosenberg.

“We are fortunate to welcome Jane back to the BABC after her professional growth with Deloitte and her Fulbright,” said Neil Boyden Tanner, President of Tanner and of BABC of Greater Philadelphia, and Deputy Chief Counsel of CIGNA International. “Jane brings a wealth of knowledge, cross-cultural communication and marketing experience. Her enthusiasm and first hand understanding of international business will greatly benefit the BABC in continuing its role as the leading transatlantic business network.”

Ms. Rosenberg’s appointment follows the retirement of Sheryl Rothberg, who served the BABC since 1993.