In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 798 It looks like I'll be going to America again.
After John Reed finished speaking, the entire conference room erupted in discussion.

Although John Reid was only a senior vice president at Citibank, he still held considerable prestige among Citibank's senior management.

After graduating from college, John Reed joined Citibank and became the bank's youngest senior vice president at the age of 30 in 1969.

John Reid's ability and vision have already been proven by his ability to break into the core management team of Citibank at such a young age and become one of its key executives.

For this reason, even those directors who were resistant to his opinions had to take them seriously.

John Reed has now been in the position of senior vice president for 12 years.

If his boss hadn't been still alive, John Reed would have already advanced to a higher position.

Moreover, John Reed was considered early on as one of Walter Reston's most suitable successors.

Therefore, the negotiations he is currently conducting on behalf of Citibank with Lin Haoran, and his strong recommendation at the board meeting, are not only about the current transaction, but also, to some extent, a preview and test of his future ability to lead Citibank.

He must demonstrate the ability to both safeguard Citibank's core interests and drive the bank forward with a strategic vision.

The discussion in the meeting room continued for a moment.

Despite strong opposition, John Reed's qualifications, prestige, and the stakes he articulated forced many directors to reconsider.

At this point, Walter Riston, the chairman of the board of Citibank who had been silent all along, finally spoke up: "John is right."

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire conference room.

The leader, who had been at the helm of Citigroup for many years, scanned the faces of every director present, taking in their reactions.

He was well aware of John Reed's abilities and vision, and understood the strategic significance behind the deal. The two had already reached an agreement before the meeting.

At that moment, he raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Gentlemen," Walter Riston's voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable authority, "Reed's judgment is largely consistent with my considerations."

With just one sentence, the conference room fell completely silent, and all eyes were on him.

Walter Riston said slowly, "We can't just look at the issue from the perspective of ownership of a board seat. We need to look at Citigroup's position on the global chessboard over the next ten years, or even longer."

The Far East market is not just Hong Kong, but also the vast continent that is undergoing tremendous changes, and its potential far exceeds our current level of penetration.

Mr. Lin Haoran is not an ordinary nouveau riche. We have witnessed the depth and resilience of his financial and business network in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as his personal business capabilities.

I have some documents here, which detail Mr. Lin Haoran's itinerary and experiences during his recent trip to mainland China. You can take a look.

As he spoke, Walter Riston's secretary handed out a document to everyone present.

The document contains information about Lin Haoran's trip to the mainland in early October to attend an economic symposium, and the subsequent events.

This fact, of course, could not be kept from them.

Everyone knows that the mainland played a significant role in Hong Kong's rapid development in the 1960s and 70s, making it one of the world's three major financial centers and one of the world's most developed cities.

Hong Kong boasts Victoria Harbour, a world-class natural harbor with deep and wide waterways that remain ice-free year-round. It serves as a vital transit point for East Asia's access to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, giving it a natural geographical advantage, which is just one aspect of its appeal.

Most importantly, Hong Kong is backed by mainland China and faces Southeast Asia and the international market. Hong Kong is not only a bridge between the mainland and the world, but also a "springboard" for international capital to enter the mainland.

After the 70s, the mainland gradually opened up to the outside world, but the dual-track system restricted the import of goods, and a large number of products were stockpiled in Hong Kong and then resold to the mainland.

As the only window for trade between the mainland and the international community, Hong Kong's trade chain expanded rapidly, becoming a key engine for its economic take-off.

Despite the relatively underdeveloped economy in mainland China today, Citibank executives have never underestimated the explosive potential of this market with a population of over one billion.

However, despite their desire to enter the mainland market, they simply cannot find a way in.

That ancient and vast land remains a heavily guarded no-go zone for foreign banks.

The dual barriers of policy and market have left even financial giants like Citigroup feeling helpless.

Walter Riston and other directors quickly flipped through the documents in their hands, which clearly recorded the high-level reception Lin Haoran received in mainland China, as well as the details of his in-depth discussions with relevant departments on economic cooperation.

This information gave a glimmer of hope to the Citigroup executives, who had been repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to break into the mainland market.

In fact, this was also an important reason why John Reed was able to persuade Walter Riston.

Pointing to the documents, Riston continued, "The most important reason why we have been able to stand at the pinnacle of the global financial industry for more than a hundred years is that we know how to plan ahead!"
As you can all see, Mr. Lin possesses more than just the wealth and business network that we see on the surface.

More importantly, he possesses what we at Citibank desperately need right now, but cannot directly buy with money—a 'passport' and 'endorsement of trust' to that vast future market.

He looked around at everyone with a sharp gaze: "We have tried various channels, but with little success. Mr. Lin Haoran, on the other hand, has already taken the lead and established high-level communication channels and a foundation of mutual trust that are difficult for us to reach."

"To exchange an executive director's seat for a potential first-mover advantage for Citibank in the mainland market—isn't that a worthwhile deal?"

He paused, then looked at Charles Wilson, who had just been the most vocal opponent: "Charles, you're worried about sharing core interests with outsiders, but I want to ask you, is it more in Citibank's core interests to bring a partner with enormous potential into our chariot and have him fight for our interests?"

Or would it be more in our interest to push him out the door, potentially making him a future enemy we must deal with with all our might?

Wilson opened his mouth, but ultimately did not refute.

Riston's words hit the nail on the head: is it control and exploitation, or indulgence and confrontation?

Walter Riston continued, “Giving us an executive director seat may seem like a concession, but in reality, it’s a way for us to ‘institutionalize’ Lin Haoran and the vast Eastern resources behind him into the Citigroup system.”

Once he takes this position, his interests will be deeply intertwined with Citibank's, and the Eastern perspective and resources he brings will become Citibank's assets.

His future achievements will be realized within the framework of Citibank and subject to our supervision and constraints. This is a mutual achievement, and also a higher level of control.

He concluded, "By trading a bank we were already planning to deal with, which posed a potential political risk, we gained a deep strategic partnership, a key piece of our Eastern strategy, and eliminated a potentially powerful competitor..."

I believe that the terms Reed negotiated were not only acceptable, but could even be described as a shrewd strategic investment.

Walter Riston's statement completely changed the course of the meeting.

He not only supported John Reid, but also elevated the deal to the level of Citigroup's global strategy.

Most of the former opponents were now deep in thought, weighing the profound implications of the chairman's words.

“Now,” Walter Riston looked around, “we will now vote on the motion to grant Mr. Lin Haoran a permanent executive director position. Those who agree, please raise your hands.”

After a moment of silence, hands began to rise one after another.

Even several directors who had previously opposed the idea chose to submit to the greater good after Riston clearly explained the strategic implications.

The bill was passed by an overwhelming majority.

Walter Riston, who has been at the helm of Citibank since 1967, has long held a deep-rooted influence within the bank.

He not only led Citigroup through several financial crises, but also expanded Citigroup's reach globally with his forward-looking strategic vision.

When he explicitly expressed his support for the deal, even directors who still had doubts had to carefully consider the consequences of going against his wishes.

This compromise gradually quelled the opposition.

They gained Lin Haoran, a valuable partner from the East, while also protecting their existing core interests to the greatest extent possible.

After nearly an hour of intense discussion, the participants ultimately approved the deal by a narrow margin.

“Very good, Lucy, record this vote. The resolution is passed,” Walter Riston said to the board secretary.

"Understood, Mr. Riston."

When John Reed, far away in Hong Kong, heard the result over the phone, a huge weight was lifted from his heart, and at the same time, a surge of excitement for achieving great things welled up within him.

This is not only a successful transaction, but also a perfect demonstration of his strategic vision and execution capabilities, adding significant weight to his future succession path.

“Congratulations, John,” Riston said into the microphone. “You have won an important strategic partner for Citibank. Now you can tell Mr. Lin that Citibank accepts all of his terms.”

After hanging up the phone, Reed immediately picked up the hotel phone and dialed Lin Haoran's number.

It was late at night, but he knew that the person on the other end of the phone must also be waiting for this news.

Meanwhile, at the Lin family residence on Shi Xun Road, Lin Haoran had just finished talking with Guo Xiaohan on the sofa in the living room on the third floor when his mobile phone rang in the study.

He glanced at the caller ID and a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

It seems there must be some news.

He picked up his mobile phone, went to his study, and pressed the answer button.

"Mr. Lin, the board of directors has formally approved all of our transaction terms, including that additional condition. Congratulations, Hengsheng Group will soon become a member of the executive board of Citibank."

Although he had expected this outcome, Lin Haoran's heart still raced a little faster when the confirmation came.

This means that he is truly about to squeeze into the power core of Citibank, a global financial giant.

This is no longer a nominal title, but a real position that allows one to participate in core decision-making.

He took a deep breath and replied in a calm and sincere tone: "Thank you very much, Mr. John. Please be sure to convey my sincerest gratitude to Chairman Riston and all the directors."

I firmly believe this is a wise decision by Citibank and will usher in a new era of cooperation between our two companies. Of course, all of this is inseparable from your strong support, and I, Lin Haoran, will forever remember this kindness.

His deliberate emphasis on his personal gratitude to John Reed was also an attempt to solidify this crucial connection.

After all, this bigwig was destined to lead Citibank for over a decade. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, John Reid succeeded Walter Riston in 1984 and remained in that position until 2000, when he ultimately left due to differing management philosophies with Sandy Weir.

After John Reed left the company, Citigroup's technological innovation advantage gradually diminished.

This demonstrates just how important John Reed was to Citibank.

As for who this Sandy Will is?
In fact, he is the future head of the Travelers Group, which will merge with Citibank, and is also a squid man.

In 1998, John Reid spearheaded the merger of Citigroup and Travelers Group, creating the world's largest financial services company with total assets of $7000 billion.

After the merger, he served as co-chairman and co-CEO with Sandy Weir.

In Lin Haoran's view, John Reed's biggest mistake during his tenure at Citibank was the "merger of equals" with Sandy Weir.

On the surface, it created a global financial behemoth, but in reality, it introduced the most dangerous enemy.

The leader of that Travelers Group was never one to be subservient to others.

Now that he has squeezed into the core power circle of Citibank, he naturally will not let history repeat itself.

Thinking of this, a smile couldn't help but appear on Lin Haoran's lips.

He has a full 17 years to go, and he can change a lot about Citibank.

Perhaps, in the future, Citibank will no longer be interested in Travelers Group!
Just like in Hong Kong, he has already completely changed the development trend of the entire Hong Kong business community, making it completely different from the Hong Kong business landscape he was familiar with in his previous life.

“This is a win-win situation, Mr. Lin.” John Reed’s voice on the other end of the phone pulled him back to reality. “I will sign a preliminary transaction agreement with you on behalf of Citibank at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Meanwhile, the group's team will immediately initiate the follow-up procedures. Since the position of Executive Director is very important to the group, I look forward to meeting you in New York soon, if possible.

Lin Haoran calmly replied, "Of course, I also look forward to meeting with Chairman Riston and all the directors in person. Hengsheng Group will fully cooperate with the signing of the agreement. Mr. John, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

"Well then, Mr. Lin, see you tomorrow morning!"

See you tomorrow morning!

After hanging up the phone, Lin Haoran felt a mix of emotions.

Looks like I'll be going to the US again.

However, he didn't care.

The United States is his lucky place. Every time he goes to the United States, he makes a fortune.

Who knows, there might be some surprise waiting for him this time!

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in his study, gazing at the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour, but his heart shone even brighter than the lights.

This move went even more smoothly than he had anticipated.

Not only did they successfully sell off the hot potato that was Haifeng Bank, but they also acquired shares in Citibank, cash, and most importantly, an executive director position.

This means that from now on, he will have a place on the core stage of global finance.

Hengsheng Group may seem very powerful in Hong Kong, but it still lags behind global giants like Citibank.

“Boom boom boom—”

There was a gentle knock on the study door, and Guo Xiaohan walked in carrying a cup of hot milk.

Seeing Lin Haoran standing by the window deep in thought, she asked softly, "Brother Haoran, has everything been settled?"

Lin Haoran turned around and took the milk, a relaxed smile on his face: "Not only did we reach an agreement, but the terms are even better than we expected."

After taking a sip of milk, he suddenly said, "By the way, would you like to go to America for a trip?"

Guo Xiaohan never interferes with his business decisions, which Lin Haoran appreciates.

This is what a typical wealthy wife should be like.

However, there were some things that Lin Haoran didn't care about knowing.

Upon hearing that Lin Haoran wanted to take her with him to America, Guo Xiaohan's eyes lit up immediately: "Really? Can I go to America with you?"

"Of course." Lin Haoran smiled and put his arm around her shoulder. "Besides handling some work matters, I can also take you to some tourist attractions. If we stay a little longer, we can travel around together and treat it as our honeymoon."

Guo Xiaohan was delighted but also somewhat troubled: "However, there are still many things at the charity foundation that I need to handle personally."

“The charitable foundation has a professional management team. If you want to truly take charge, you’ll need at least a year of training. Taking a break for a while won’t hurt,” Lin Haoran said with a smile.

"Furthermore," Lin Haoran gently held her hand, "I also want you to have more exposure to the operating models of international charitable organizations during this trip to the United States. Citibank also has a charitable foundation, and their management experience is worth learning from."

In terms of charitable foundations, Hong Kong's operating model is indeed still in a relatively backward stage.

In contrast, Citibank possesses the most advanced business philosophy in the world, and Lin Haoran's statement is indeed correct.

Guo Xiaohan then smiled and said, "I see. Then I really should go and learn from them."

"Then it's settled." Lin Haoran checked the time. "After signing the contract tomorrow, we'll start preparing for the trip. Although the departure date is still undetermined, we might be staying in the US for more than a month this time, so be prepared."

"So long?" Guo Xiaohan was somewhat surprised.

“Yes.” Lin Haoran said seriously, “I also have some businesses in the United States, and I do need to take a look. Moreover, as the world’s largest market, there are some plans that I need to personally promote.”

"Brother Haoran, I'm suddenly looking forward to it. Do you remember the time we went to England together?" Guo Xiaohan couldn't help but reminisce.

Lin Haoran couldn't help but smile.

At that time, he and Guo Xiaohan had not officially confirmed their relationship. However, while they were in England, although they did not take the final step, they had done everything they were supposed to do, such as kissing and touching.

In the blink of an eye, she has now become his official fiancée.

Thinking of this, Lin Haoran looked at Guo Xiaohan's slightly flushed face, and with a gasp from Guo Xiaohan, he swept her up in his arms and strode towards the bedroom.

Guo Xiaohan gasped softly, her arms naturally encircling Lin Haoran's neck, a shy blush spreading across her face: "Brother Haoran, you..."

"Since we're going on our honeymoon, let's do a little preview tonight." Lin Haoran's deep voice was tinged with laughter as he carried her steadily toward the bedroom.

The bedroom door was gently closed. Under the warm light, Lin Haoran placed Guo Xiaohan on the soft bed and leaned over to look at her flushed cheeks.

Guo Xiaohan's heart raced involuntarily, her eyes filled with both anticipation and nervousness.

"Do you remember when we were in England?" Lin Haoran gently stroked her hair, his voice tender. "Back then, your initiative made me know that you were destined to be my wife."

As Guo Xiaohan gazed into his affectionate eyes, her nervousness gradually turned into tenderness.

She reached out and put her arm around his shoulder, whispering, "Being your wife is the happiest thing in my life."

……

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains.

When Lin Haoran woke up, he saw Guo Xiaohan sleeping peacefully beside him, a sweet smile on her lips.

He gently got up, tucked her in, and then walked towards the bathroom.

When Guo Xiaohan woke up, she found that the pillow next to her was empty.

At this moment, Lin Haoran had already arrived at the Peninsula Hotel with the senior executives of Hengsheng Group.

In addition, the general manager of Citibank's Hong Kong branch also came to assist John Reed, a senior executive from headquarters.

This deal is too important for them to ignore.

The signing ceremony was held in the Peninsula Hotel’s most luxurious banquet hall.

When Lin Haoran led his team into the venue, John Reed immediately came to greet them.

The two shook hands, both looking forward to the signing ceremony that was about to begin.

“Mr. John, from now on we’re all on the same side!” Lin Haoran said with a smile, shaking the other man’s hand.

Hengsheng Group's acquisition of a seat on the executive board of Citibank means that Lin Haoran has also acquired that seat.

After all, he is the only owner of Hengsheng Group.

An executive director at Citibank is already considered one of Citibank's core senior executives.

Therefore, the two sides are truly on the same side, and Lin Haoran was not wrong in saying that.

Upon hearing this, John Reed's smile became even more sincere: "Mr. Lin is right. From now on, we're on the same side. Chairman Riston specifically instructed me to cooperate fully with you to familiarize yourself with Citibank's operations."

The two exchanged a smile, both understanding the deeper meaning behind those words.

Lin Haoran needs Citibank's platform and resources, while Citibank needs Lin Haoran's channels and influence in the Far East market and is optimistic about Lin Haoran's future prospects. This is a win-win cooperation.

An hour later, witnessed by a reporter from the Oriental Daily, the transaction agreement between Hengsheng Group and Citibank was officially signed.

(End of this chapter)