Hartmark Consultancy Expands into China with New Shanghai Venture

Fintech Wales member Hartmark has established its first permanent presence in Asia with the launch of a joint venture in Shanghai, as the business continues its international expansion.

Hartmark helps businesses navigate cultural, legal and financial challenges in international trade, supporting organisations across more than 160 countries through a single point of contact across the trade lifecycle.

The new Shanghai presence brings Hartmark closer to the Asia-Pacific market and will enable the company to handle cases onshore, while creating opportunities to work with Chinese companies requiring international recovery services and multinational businesses in Asia facing cross-border credit issues.

Hartmark already works closely with Chinese insurers including SINOSURE and PICC, with the Shanghai operation allowing the company to liaise more directly with these existing clients rather than relying solely on remote communication or partners.

The company successfully applied for support from the Welsh Government’s Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme to assist with setting up the Shanghai venture.

Alongside its international expansion, Hartmark remains headquartered in Gwynedd, north Wales, where it continues to build its local workforce, partner with Welsh academia and contribute to the Welsh fintech scene.

Patrick Harte, Director and Co-founder of Hartmark, said:

“Establishing a presence in Shanghai within two years of trading is an enormous milestone for us. It brings us closer to our clients in Asia and underscores our commitment to facilitating international trade by being local where it matters.

“The business will remain headquartered in Gwynedd, north Wales, where we continue to build a local workforce, partner with Welsh academia and add value to the Welsh fintech scene — all while simultaneously achieving global reach.

“Our carefully curated global network of 100+ vetted qualified professionals across every major trading region is undoubtedly a huge advantage and will allow us to add value to both Chinese firms and UK/European businesses in commercial intelligence, risk management and recovery solutions during a time when international trade has never been more complex.”

Supporting Hartmark’s presence on the ground in Shanghai are local team members Sun Ling and Sun Yiguo, who will help the company bridge cultural and language gaps when working with organisations in the region.

Sun Ling brings expertise in management consulting, credit management and debt collection, while Sun Yiguo is a former senior bankruptcy specialist in Shanghai with more than 35 years of legal practice. Together with their UK counterparts, the team has more than 120 years of combined experience.

Rhys Griffiths, Relationship Manager at Fintech Wales, said:

“Hartmark’s expansion into China is a strong example of how Welsh fintech companies can successfully export their expertise on a global stage. This move not only supports the company’s continued growth, but also strengthens wider Wales–China trade connectivity.

“It’s great to see a Welsh fintech leading the way in early AI adoption, advanced technology integration, and a strong commitment to international standards. By supporting the more efficient resolution of trade payments and disputes, Hartmark’s work can help businesses on both sides trade with greater confidence and contribute to smoother cross-border activity.”

Hartmark is predicted to turn over £3 million over the next three years, with plans for further international expansion on the horizon.