Family fosters UK-China ties for 3 generations

Carrying on the baton

In 2006, Jack visited China again. This time, he stayed in Shanghai and Beijing for four years and set up an entertainment company to gain hands-on experience in doing business in China.

He also launched Young Icebreakers, a channel to share ideas, raise awareness and promote the achievements of British and Chinese young people, creating a sense of collaboration and community among young professionals in the UK who are interested in China and the broader community.

After becoming the chairman of the 48 Group, Jack became busier than ever, traveling between London and cities in China for business conferences and expos, and exploring the market opportunities that China offers. He visited dozens of companies in various provinces across China, looking for potential partners for UK businesses, and organized the 2024 China-UK Biomedical Exchange and Cooperation Forum in Beijing.

"I want to do action, and I want to make business happen between China and the UK and one cannot make effective changes without being willing to go out in the wind first," he said. "So I'll go out 40 times if that means one company can do business."

To Jack Perry Jr, the spirit of the Icebreaking Mission is to stand up for what is right even when the weather is bad. "It's easy to go out on a summer's day," he said. "I think the icebreakers stand up when the weather is cloudy, stand up when it rains."

"My grandfather did that. When he went to China, he was called a 'traitor'. My dad did that, he was called similar things, but still, they stood there. They stayed there during times that were difficult and did what was right," he said.

When the US administration announced tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in May, Jack was among the first to point out that the nature of the tariffs was scapegoating China for US domestic problems.

"I think we are at a turbulent time, and I realize it is the time for a Perry to stand up to do the right thing," he said.

"I'm from the family of icebreakers, but I haven't ice-broken yet. My goal is just to do what's in our DNA. We are not shying away that we are a friend to China, and we would stand up even when the weather might be turbulent."