CDP Group and Lockton have formed a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening global employee benefits governance and enhancing workforce risk management for companies operating across China and international markets, according to a joint announcement.

The collaboration brings together CDP Group’s human capital management expertise with Lockton’s global insurance brokerage capabilities. The companies said the initiative is designed to support the development of cross-border employee benefits frameworks, improve compliance structures, and reinforce talent attraction strategies for organizations operating in increasingly complex regulatory environments.

The partnership is also intended to address competitive labour market conditions in China, where employers continue to compete for skilled professionals. According to the news release, CDP and Lockton will jointly provide compensation and benefits advisory services, insurance brokerage solutions, and integrated service models aimed at helping multinational employers develop more structured and competitive benefits programs.

The companies added that the partnership will also focus on Chinese enterprises expanding overseas, where access to local talent and clarity around employee benefits remain key challenges. Many candidates in international markets are said to prioritise transparency in compensation, mobility support, and risk protection when considering employment with Chinese firms abroad.

Under the collaboration, CDP Group and Lockton plan to integrate human resources services with global insurance solutions to help organisations design benefits frameworks that are both competitive and compliant. This includes aligning compensation structures, supporting international employee mobility, and strengthening coverage for workers operating across varied regulatory jurisdictions.

The partnership was formalised during a closed-door forum in Shanghai co-hosted by both organisations, which brought together more than 50 senior executives and human capital specialists. Discussions at the forum focused on organisational capability building, cross-border benefits governance, and workforce risk management, as well as the evolving role of HR and insurance functions in supporting global expansion.

“As Chinese companies enter a more advanced phase of globalization, sustainable success increasingly depends on organizational strength and a clear talent strategy,” said Wei Lu, chairwoman and CEO of CDP Group. “Enterprises must move beyond incremental optimization to build globally resilient structures that support long-term growth.”

CDP Group and Lockton said they will continue to expand their collaboration through the development of integrated human capital and insurance solutions intended to support long-term global workforce strategies.

A 2025 Asia employee benefits report supported by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and AIA found that rising costs remain the dominant factor shaping employer strategies, with 49% of organisations citing rising costs as their primary concern when designing benefits programmes. The same report showed that 34% of employers identified technology and digital transformation as a key trend, as companies adopt digital health platforms and HR tools to better manage workforce benefits.