Pictured above: BABC staff
The Midlands' leading transatlantic business organisation has
merged with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI), it
was announced today (Thursday, April 29).
The British American Business Council in the Midlands (BABC) is
responsible for developing business relationships between the
region and the United States, which is the Midlands' biggest
foreign direct investor.
It has been based in the BCI's Edgbaston headquarters for a
number of years.
The merger follows the BCI's announcement last week that it had
acquired Southern Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and further
strengthens its position as the region's leading business support
organisation.
The BABC's high-profile international advisory board of leading
business figures includes Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman
of Virgin Group, Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco chief executive, Bob
Diamond, chairman of Barclays Group, and Lakshmi Mittal, chairman
and chief executive of Arcelor Mittal.
Cassie Muir, the Chicago-born executive director of the BABC,
said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for the BABC. It was
founded in 1996 by a group of Midlands-based professionals and we
remain strongly engaged in transatlantic ventures.
"Our team will be working hard to build on the base of members
in the Midlands and continue to organise high-profile
events.
"The US is the Midlands' No 1 foreign direct investor. But our
work will become more important given that the American track and
field athletics team will be based in Birmingham in the build-up to
the 2012 Olympics.
In addition, there will be important UK/US connections with the
Jamaican athletics team, which will also be based here."
The BABC was responsible for bringing the US ambassador, Louis B
Susman, to Birmingham for a recent luncheon with members and other
guests, including Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby.
Its access to the right connections, audiences, markets,
influence and intelligence has resulted in a number of
transatlantic business successes. This included developing business
in the US for Brintons Carpets, whose group managing director Harry
Reilly is now BABC's chairman.
He said: "We are delighted to have been embraced into the
Birmingham Chamber family. The USA is the most important market in
the world for commercial carpets and Brintons has used a number of
the US BABC chapters to effect introductions at senior levels to
potential customers and specifiers on a regular basis.
"The ability of the BABC to put us in contact with the right
people is second to none and we have always been warmly welcomed.
The support has been terrific.
"Quality access is at the heart of the business advantage the
BABC offers, including exclusive connections through the 2,500-plus
global membership directory.
"It aims to deliver high-calibre networking opportunities and
targeted marketing platforms - as well as top-quality business
intelligence and regulatory advice and influence.
"We provide our members with access to practical and measurable
business expansion opportunities. The BABC has grown to become the
leading transatlantic business organisation, dedicated to helping
companies connect and build their operations on both sides of the
Atlantic."
Paul Bassi, president of the BCI, said: "The BABC becomes an
important addition to the services offered by the Chamber. We
already have an enviable global reputation for promoting
international trade. The merger with the BABC will build on this
support and strengthen our position."
The Midlands is one of five UK BABC Chapters. The others are
based in London, the North West, Scotland and Yorkshire. There are
20 in North America, including one in Toronto.