The Migration Museum, in association with Allianz Global Investors, is launching a new conversation series with prominent British business leaders with migrant backgrounds.

Migrants Mean Business is a series of five in-conversation events, to be held in 2019/20, providing insight into the personal and professional stories of some of the country’s most influential business figures, while shining a light on the long, varied and important contribution of migrants to all aspects of British life.

Each conversation will be chaired by a prominent journalist, economist or business leader, and will also be released in the form of a free-to-download podcast.

The first conversation in the series takes place on Wednesday 27 March 2019 and features entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, best known as the founder of low-cost airline easyJet, in conversation with Daniel Franklin, executive and diplomatic editor of the Economist. Subsequent speakers and dates will be announced soon.

Explaining the rationale behind the series, Sophie Henderson, director of the Migration Museum, said:

“The impact of migration on the economy and labour markets is currently at the centre of public debate in the UK – and elsewhere. But while focus often tends to be on the impact of migration on lower-wage workers, it is often overlooked that many of Britain’s most successful business have been founded or are run by migrants,” said Sophie Henderson, director of the Migration Museum.

“That is why we are delighted to be staging this Migrants Mean Business series, in association with Allianz Global Investors. This series goes to the heart of what the Migration Museum is all about – shining a light on the many ways that migration has shaped who we are today – as individuals, as communities and as a nation.”

Commenting on the sponsorship, Andreas Utermann, CEO of Allianz Global Investors, said:

“Arguably, there has never been a more pressing time to foster a better-informed discourse around migration and the role it plays in society, including business.

“As a global asset manager, Allianz Global Investors employs a very diverse workforce, with at least 25 nationalities represented in the UK alone. Consequently, we are proud to support the Migration Museum’s cause and the conversations they seek to promote.”

Download and view press release as a PDF

For more information, please contact matthew@migrationmuseum.org