Music comes first in banker's world

Derek Han visited Beijing recently and was busy with two major events. The established Chinese-American pianist performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts, playing pieces by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin. He also gave a speech about the future role of the Chinese yuan as a world reserve currency, at the office of China Securities Journal, a newspaper under Xinhua News Agency.

As an internationally celebrated pianist and the chairman of North Square Blue Oak, a specialist investment bank with a strong focus on China, the 56-year-old says he enjoys switching between the two roles.

The beauty of music, he says, is it's very sincere and straightforward, which speaks directly to the heart, while in the business world, everyone is complicated and tries to find shortcuts.