About Jim Thompson - Chairman, Crown Worldwide Group

James E. Thompson, GBS is the Founder & Chairman of The Crown Worldwide Group of companies. The Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) is awarded to eminent persons in Hong Kong who have given very distinguished service to the community or who have rendered public or voluntary service of a very high degree of merit.

Crown Worldwide is a leader in mobility management, relocations, records management and logistics services throughout the world. A privately-held company established in 1965, with global headquarters in Hong Kong, the company operates over 250 locations in 55 countries, serving governments, corporations, diplomats and private customers.

Mr. Thompson graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He came to Asia shortly after completion of his university studies and has lived in Japan and Hong Kong ever since. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of the San Jose State University Business School.

The Crown Worldwide Group employs over 4,000 full time staff around the world as well as a large number of contracted personnel. The company has been awarded the prestigious Hong Kong Award for Services in Export Marketing, and received the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Innovative Services Award twice. Crown has also received the DHL/South China Morning Post International Award as Hong Kong’s best international company.

Mr. Thompson serves as the Chairman of HKTDC Logistics Services Advisory Committee. He is currently a member of the Investment Promotion Ambassador Scheme, a non-executive Director of the Board of the Wharf (Holdings) Ltd. He served as a Council member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council from 2002 to 2004, a member of the Hong Kong Trade and Industry Advisory Board and a member of the ICAC Advisory Committee on Corruption. He also served two terms as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for 2002 and 2003.

He also served as a Board Member of Ocean Park Corporation for six years, a nature-themed amusement park with a mission to assist in the understanding and practice of wildlife conservation. Although Jim retired from this post in June of 2009, Crown continues to support Ocean Park through a variety of charitable activities and services. Jim and his wife Sally are also very active in the Changing Young Lives Foundation and have chaired and organized several fund raising events. Formerly known as Save the Children Hong Kong, Changing Young Lives is a long-established charity organization based in Hong Kong, with a focus on helping children.

Additionally, Mr. Thompson serves as a member of the Hong Kong Forum and Vision 2047 which are organizations that actively discuss Hong Kong issues with visiting politicians, journalists and academics that visit Hong Kong. He is also a member of the Board of the Hong Kong-America Centre and has been a delegate representing Hong Kong on numerous Hong Kong Trade Development Council trade missions around the world.

Mr. Thompson also serves as Chairman or as a Board member of numerous charitable organizations. His particular interests are charities related to children, cancer, education and HIV/AIDS. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, is an Advisory Board Member of the Salvation Army and trustee of Outward Bound HK. He currently chairs the Annual "Hike for Hospice" Charity event.

Mr. Thompson was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star, Hong Kong’s second highest award, by the Hong Kong Government in 2003.

Mr. Thompson is a U.S. citizen and a permanent resident of Hong Kong having lived there since 1978. His wife, Sally is British. His two children, Jennifer and James Jr. work for Crown New York and Crown Beijing respectively.