The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) Claims Championship
GuangzhouMay 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 CGMA Global Business Challenge (GBC) North Asia Final, hosted by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), successfully concluded on May 30 in Guangzhou, attracting top university teams from multiple countries and regions.
This competition was not only a test of management accounting expertise but also a pinnacle showdown of innovative thinking and teamwork. After a full day of intense competition and rigorous, fair judging, the FineSME team from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) ultimately claimed the championship with their exceptional strategic thinking and outstanding teamwork. The Evil Magic Ball team from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics secured the runner-up position; the Frontier Analytics team from Mongolian University of Finance and Economics and the Archipelago Ventures team from The University of Hong Kong tied for third place. All participating teams demonstrated excellent business acumen and international strategic vision. Additionally, Shu Xin from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and Matthew Christopher Handojo from The University of Hong Kong received the “Future Business Leader Award (North Asia),” fully showcasing the potential and brilliance of future business elites.
This year’s competition allowed participants to utilize AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology for business case analysis and decision-making. This initiative, adopted since last year, not only showcased the latest integration of the GBC competition with AI technology but also highlighted CIMA’s forward-thinking approach in keeping pace with the digital era. It further provided participating teams with an innovative platform to demonstrate their digital mindset and AI capabilities. Three teams from The University of Hong Kong, Mongolian University of Finance and Economics, and Dongbei University of Finance and Economics received the “Best AI Application Award” for their outstanding use of AI.
Meanwhile, congratulations to the THW ban BP team from Macau University of Science and Technology, the Formosa Explorer team from National Chengchi University, and the Invictus team from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies for winning the North Asia Final Excellence Award.
During the opening ceremony, Ms. Li Ying (FCMA, CGMA), North Asia President of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA), stated: “Since 2008, GBC has been a platform for students to shine, showcasing their business knowledge, leadership, and communication skills. In the AI-driven era, the ability to communicate face-to-face and earn others’ trust is more important than ever, and that is the core of GBC. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. GBC is the first step in the marathon of life. In recent years, I have met many former GBC participants who have become true young business elites, and they all mention how profoundly this experience has impacted their personal growth.” She encouraged all participating students: “The pressure you experience today, the creativity you ignite, and the teamwork spirit you foster will carry you far. Especially the determined and enterprising spirit you demonstrate in the face of challenges at GBC—this mindset will lead you to an even brighter future.”
The judging panel for this competition consisted of business leaders, financial executives, and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) holders from various industries, who highly praised the participants’ performances. All case questions were uniformly designed by CIMA, ensuring professionalism and challenge. Before the results were announced, the judging panel provided detailed feedback on the teams’ performances, further underscoring the authority and high standards of the competition.
The expert judges for the 2026 CGMA GBC North Asia Final were:
Ye Jun, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Financial Officer, CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited
Dr. Aidan Goddard, FCMA, CGMA, Member of CIMA Professional Standards Committee; Member of CIMA Lifelong Learning Committee; Chair of CIMA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Working Group
Zhu Xuan, FCMA, CGMA, Vice Chair of CIMA China Mainland Council; CFO and Chief Sustainability Officer, United Overseas Bank
Mark Clayton, FCMA, CGMA, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong; Co-founder and CFO, Zhuhai Shengshi Xide Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
Jeremy Brown, FCMA, CGMA, Founder and CEO, Insyteful
Li Xiaoya, Data Science Expert, ByteDance; 2017 CIMA GBC Central China Regional Champion, North Asia Third Place, and Most Business Potential Individual Award
Special thanks to the following enterprises and organizers for their strong support of the CGMA Global Business Challenge!
Lead AI Partner: Baidu APP
Ecosystem Partners: Unipus, Wander Puffs Shanghai 0602 Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Haier Group, Xincheng, Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Joint Conference, Younuo Dairy
Honorary Partners: BOLUO Financial Training, Atachi Daiichi, Dalian No.1 Mutual Inductor Group.