Best-known as the half-brother of Boris Johnson, Max Johnson is an expert on finance and investment in China. Fluent in five languages, he has spent over 15 years living in Asia and Hong Kong, where he worked for Goldman-Sachs, before setting up his own firm, MJ Capital. This varied career has given Max unprecedented insight into how Chinese business and culture functions, and how best to strengthen the fragile relationship between East and West.... Read more
Max Johnson – Marco Polo of modern ages. Marathon in North Korea / Asia / The Silk Road.
Meet Max Johnson, the half-brother of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who lives in Hong Kong
Max Johnson is a British entrepreneur and investor, and the half-brother of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In 2009 he was the first Briton to gain an MBA from Tsinghua University, and has followed this up with an impressive career in finance on the Asian continent. In 2018 he set up investment firm MJ Capital, and also holds advisory roles in other investment firms. Max has unparalleled knowledge of how China thinks and works. “My mission in business is to improve relations between China and the UK,” he says.
After completing his MBA, Max Johnson spent five years working in business development for a British metals trader, before transitioning to Goldman-Sachs where he worked across a range of sectors. This background in commodities trading, global finance, private advisory and international dealmaking gives Max a unique perspective on ways to deepen and strengthen the East-West bridge.
Max is a founder member of the China Britain Business Council and has served as vice-chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. In 2024 he was elected member of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute. His advisory roles include a contract with Meridian Universal and ABG Advisory, a New York-based offshoot of Tony Blair Associates. In 2025 Max was appointed to the supervisory board of Anorbank, Uzbekistan first digital-only bank.
As well as holding a certificate in management from MIT Sloan School of Business, Max is fluent in five languages, including Russian, Mandarin, Polish and French. After Eton, he gained a Modern Languages BA in Russian with Polish at Christ Church College, University of Oxford, where he was the UK winner of the 2007 Russian Language Essay Competition. A documentary, In The Footsteps of Marco Polo, in which Max travelled alongside his father Stanley Johnson, retracing the 13th-century explorer’s footsteps across Asia.
Max Johnson was the first British man to run the Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea, and holds a black belt in Taekwondo.
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You can book Max Johnson through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Max's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Max Johnson's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Max tailored to your event.
Max Johnson speaks on Asia, Business & Management, Change, Communication, Emerging Markets. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Max to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Max Johnson for events worldwide, subject to Max's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Max Johnson is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Max can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Max Johnson on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Max can offer.
Max Johnson delivers keynotes in Chinese, English, Russian. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Max Johnson's areas of expertise include Asia, Business & Management, Change, Communication, Emerging Markets. To get a clear sense of Max's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Max Johnson can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Asia, Business & Management, Change, Communication, Emerging Markets is relevant. Details of Max's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Max Johnson is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Max Johnson, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Max's current availability for your dates.