With the sale of Dezan Shira & Associates to Ascentium, I have been touring most of my (40) offices to bid farewell to the staff, many of whom I have worked with for decades. For many years, I operated the business with a main equity board of just four directors and shareholders, with myself holding the majority. That allowed for plenty of discussion over key development issues but meant that I could make a decision on the very rare occasions we could not reach a majority decision.

Ah, Hong Kong, or as it became later known after the 1997 handover “Xianggang”. The name means ‘Fragrant Harbor’ although as Pierce Brosnan was famously advised in the TV series ‘Taipan’ (a loose description of the rise of the Swire colonial trading house) when confronted with the stench of the then Kai Tak airport – ‘that’s the smell of money’.

Having sold the business I began back in 1992, it seems only appropriate to embark on a tour of at least some, if not all (there are 40) of the offices Dezan Shira & Associates have had in place now for many years. I recall our opening up of our Vietnam practice back in 2009, when foreign manufacturers were all moving to China – we already had multiple China offices at that time and professional firms such as lawyers and consultants like us were all bullish about the country.

I have recently sold and cashed out of the Asian consulting practice I founded in 1992. In this article I will explain the main principles of selling such a business, in order to provide some tips and background knowledge to Asia-based entrepreneurs who may be wanting to research the procedures and the points to look out for. Hopefully these will help maximise the businesses value and make a smooth transition to a new retirement or career development plan.

I always try and get in a bit of sailing before the annual Malta Middle Sea Race – and having recently joined the Royal Malta Yacht Club as a full member it’s good to get in a bit of practice. By October, the island – further south than much of the North African coast has lost its summer heat but the weather can be changeable. 

The Arctic regions have fascinated me for years, starting with visits to Tromso and then to Svalbard, the closest permanently inhabited place to the North Pole. Arctic discovery was originally undertaken by the British, Danish and Norwegian explorers, looking both for the elusive Northern trade route to Asia, and also in the whaling industry. Most of the Russian influence on the Arctic remained remote, even though the bulk of the Arctic circle is Russian territory, until the Soviet era.

The Khulan, or Mongolian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus hemionus) is a rare species of donkey that is only found deep in the Gobi Desert and is consequently not often seen by most visitors to the country. The Przewalski’s Horse is rather more famous, and while fascinating in its own right, is resident in national parks just a few hours’ drive from Ulaan Baatar. Trekking out to see the Khulan (also known as the Onager) in comparison is a three-day journey.

Every year, all of my Dezan Shira & Associates have a long weekend off to develop team building and camaraderie, and as a reward for their hard work. With 40 offices and close to 1,000 staff throughout Asia, that’s a lot of long weekends! As the Chairman and Founding Partner, I can choose which trip I wish to attend, and as our New Delhi office has just appointed, due to retirement, a new Managing Partner, it made sense for me to participate in their trip to Dalhousie, in the Indian Himalaya.

I am a big fan of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich, an explorer, philosopher and artist, some of whose works I am lucky enough to have in my private art collection. I have previously visited the Roerich Museums in New York and St. Petersburg, and last year visited his home in UlaanBaatar, Mongolia, where he spent two years planning his extensive Central Asian and Tibetan expeditions.

My new book, “The Optimistic Kingfisher” has just been published by Jam Fruit Publications in Colombo. It’s a collection of stories written for children aged about 7-12, designed to introduce them to Sri Lanka’s nature, including flowers, birds, insects, fish, turtles. It was inspired by my own Godchildren coming to visit a few years ago, when they stayed with me for 6 months. I would write for, and read them bedtime stories. 

It’s been distributed throughout Sri Lanka, and has had very positive reviews, such as this one in the Colombo Sunday Telegraph.   

I’m also a featured author at the 2025 Galle Literary Festival which takes place from 6-9 February, and where I shall be reading some of the stories. 

Next year – expect more books!