Let’s make London even greater together

Karim Fatehi MBE, the new Chief Executive Officer of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talks to Sarah Dale about members’ expectations of the new Government and why he is so passionate about being an adopted Londoner.

Karim Fatehi’s passion for London shines through when you speak to him.He lives and breathes the city he made his home having moved from Iran to the UK in 1976 to study when he was 15.

“I have been very privileged to have lived here in the UK where I received the best education,” explains Karim, who is the new CEO of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

“Education is something I always cherish. As long as you have the education, you’re halfway there. I always had ambition and have had the opportunity to run two successful businesses. And my children are very successful too – my daughter is a trainee doctor and my son works for Google. I want to see this success for everyone.

“As an immigrant, I do cherish the UK as the biggest opportunity for people globally.”

In 1995, he founded United Corporation, an engineering procurement management company in the oil and gas sector. The company has twice won the Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2007 and 2011. He is now a judge of the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.

“Education is something I always cherish. As long as you have the education, you’re halfway there. I always had ambition and have had the opportunity to run two successful businesses. And my children are very successful too – my daughter is a trainee doctor and my son works for Google. I want to see this success for everyone.”

He was awarded an MBE for services to international trade in 2012.

“It’s not a decision I have taken lightly,” says Karim, of taking the Interim CEO role at LCCI in October 2023. The role was made permanent in March 2024.

“But my instinct was to accept the job.

“I’m well engaged with decision-makers and stakeholders and our own members, having been on the Board since 2022 and a member of LCCI for seven years.

“The real voice is our members. It could be a one-man operation or patron members with hundreds of employees, we represent them all.”

Since Karim took the helm, membership has increased to 8,500 businesses and the number of patron members has increased too.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I’m very privileged to be in this position,” says Karim, who has two grandchildren aged four and 18 months.

“It has a lot of responsibility, a full sevendays-a-week with the changes in the new Government.

“My priority is London competitiveness, it’s something that really matters to me. London directly impacts the UK economy. London’s success hinges on the ability to operate smoothly. The new Government can ensure that London remains attractive for inward investment and tourism. We need inward investment.”

The challenges ahead

To ensure London remains globally competitive, Karim says that there are several issues which will have to be addressed including infrastructure, skills and entrepreneurship, business visas, business crime, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), business rates, tax-free shopping, arts and culture, and affordable housing.

The LCCI released its report, Securing London’s Prosperity: Manifesto for Business Resilience and Growth, prior to the general election highlighting the above issues and what members want to see the Government put in place to ensure economic growth in the UK.

Karim says he welcomes the new Government, adding: “We cherish this opportunity to make this great city of London even greater.

“We have a lot to ask and we’re not expecting miracles. I talk to members every day and we need to be more flexible, agile and address the businesses’ asks.

“We need a highly skilled workforce, that is crucial to our longevity, to our economy; we need to put the infrastructure in the right place to build our businesses; we need an agile training programme for SMEs which will include short-term visas; we need to reduce business crime.

“We are working very closely with the Metropolitan Police on reducing businessrelated crime. The police are doing a great job but are short on resources.

“Funding is essential for transport in London and connectivity to the North. The Government should not delay on this.

“I’m very hopeful about the new Chancellor’s plans to build more affordable housing. We need a sustainable business-friendly system for affordable housing, and we need more affordable housing near London so people can afford to work here.

“I used to travel overseas, and I know that our universities are the top universities in the world. We need to address the visa issue. It will promote a skills boost and help us be globally competitive, particularly London.

“London is a city of arts and culture and people around the world have a dream of visiting our capital and we must make it attractive. We need funding for arts and culture; it’s part of our constitution.”

Women in business

The LCCI has “always been positive” and committed to EDI. The LCCI has a Women in Business group which aims to grow the representation of women in underrepresented sectors and promote inclusivity as a marketplace and financial advantage.

“It is encouraging to see that 44 per cent of the new Cabinet are women; it sends out a positive message,” he says.

“We need to have an equitable environment. My Chair and Deputy Chair Julia OnslowCole and Claire Broadbelt are both lawyers. They have a vision, they’re proactive and completely supportive. I’m very privileged to work with them both.”

Looking to the future, Karim’s vision for LCCI is to look at the weaknesses and the positives of the organisation to ensure they can do everything they can for members and have “a proper dial-up with Government as the voice of London”.

“Without that, we can’t echo the voice of our members,” he adds.

“I had the privilege of talking to Sir Keir Starmer before the election and he said to me if they don’t have that feedback from us, they can’t make big decisions on business. We are the voice of 8,500 businesses across London and we want to ensure we’re heard.”

Having known Karim for over 10 years, where I helped his business while at UKTI / DIT / now DBT, I am so proud that he has been promoted to CEO of LCCI. Our West London Chambers is a member of London’s Local Chambers, where in my new role, I am deputy Chair. LLC has 5000 members, who in turn feed in as members of LCCI.

Our business links are strong in West London, which can only add to the strength that makes London worth 25% of the total UK economy.

Alan Rides MIEx (Grad) Chief Executive