Mark Harper, long-serving group head of sustainability for Hong Kong conglomerate John Swire & Sons, is stepping down after almost 10 years with the group.
Harper was responsible for embedding sustainable development across one of Asia’s most diversified business portfolios, which includes majority ownership of Cathay Pacific, Swire Coca-Cola, Swire Properties and Swire Shipping.
He announced at the start of the year, via LinkedIn, that he is seeking a new CSO position. Harper said he is open to opportunities in Singapore, Shanghai, Greater London, Dubai and Hong Kong.
The move follows reports that John Swire & Sons cut around 10 per cent of staff at its Hong Kong head office in late 2025 in a bid to streamline operations and improve efficiency amid weaker corporate earnings linked to China’s economic slowdown. Roles in finance, risk management – and sustainability – were affected.
Swire told Eco-Business that it does not comment on individual staff exits and would not say how the company’s sustainability function would be affected. “Swire’s longstanding commitment to sustainable development remains steadfast,” it said in a statement.
Harper was part of the leadership team that created SwireTHRIVE, the group-wide sustainability strategy that guides subsidiaries toward long-term targets including net-zero emissions, water neutrality and zero waste to landfill by 2050.
He was promoted to group head of sustainability in 2022, succeeding Mark Watson – now head of sustainability at Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts based in Phuket – after previously serving as group sustainability manager.
Before joining Swire, Harper worked in the non-profit sector with organisations including China Water Risk, Earthwatch Institute and Fauna & Flora International. He currently sits on the board of the Business Environment Council and chairs the environmental, social and governance committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
