Mr. Kwek Leng Hai
Aged 71, the Chairman of the Company since October 2006 and has been a Non-executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in 1997. Mr. Kwek is also the Chairman of Board Nomination Committee and a member of Board Remuneration Committee of the Company.
Mr. Kwek is a director and shareholder of GuoLine Capital Assets Limited (“GCAL”), the ultimate holding company of the Company. He is the Executive Chairman of Guoco Group Limited (“GGL”), a subsidiary of GCAL and listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“Stock Exchange”). He is also a non-executive director of GuocoLand Limited (“GuocoLand”, GGL’s subsidiary listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”)). He serves as a non-executive director of Hong Leong Bank Berhad (“HLBB”, a listed subsidiary of Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (“HLFG”, GGL’s associated company listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia”))) and Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd. (an associated company of HLBB and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange).
Mr. Kwek qualified as a chartered accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He has extensive experience in various business sectors, including but not limited to finance, investment, manufacturing and real estate. He is the brother-in-law of Dr. Whang Sun Tze, a Non-executive Director of the Company.
Mr. Chiu Chao Hsiang, James
Aged 53, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in June 2024.
Mr. Chiu holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Food & Nutrition from Fu-Jen University in Taipei, and a dual degree in Master of Science (MS) in Human Nutrition and Master of Health Policy and Management (MPH) from Columbia University in the City of New York, USA.
Mr. Chiu has over 28 years of experience in the areas of food and beverage, nutritional and healthcare products sectors and has strong executive experience in multi-national corporations for the Greater China regions. He has served in key leadership roles at General Mills, Abbott Laboratories, Royal FrieslandCampina, Nestle and Mead Johnson.
Mr. Christian K. Nothhaft
Aged 59, Non-executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in April 2024. He is a member of Board Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company.
Mr. Nothhaft is an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of GGL.
Mr. Nothhaft graduated from Munich University of Applied Science in Germany with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and also holds a Human Resources/ Payroll Management Degree from DGFP (German Association for Human Resource Management). He has also attended the Harvard University Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) Program. Mr. Nothhaft has extensive experience in business management and advisory, strategic planning, retail, consumer products, network rollouts, e-commerce, digital transformation, people management, ESG and compliance.
Mr. Nothhaft is an independent non-executive director and a member of the remuneration and nominations Committees of DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, with primary listing on London Stock Exchange and secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Watsons Personal Care Stores, China and the managing director of Watsons Wine and Fortress Hong Kong. Before that, he was the regional managing director of Movenpick (Asia Restaurants Group).
Dr. Whang Sun Tze Ph.D.
Aged 80, Non-executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in 1984.
Dr. Whang holds a Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering. He is the brother-in-law of Mr. Kwek Leng Hai.
Mr. Lester G. Huang SBS, JP
Aged 64, was appointed as an Independent Non-executive Director of the Company in November 2013. Mr. Huang is the Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee and a member of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company.
Mr. Huang is an independent non-executive director, the Chairman of the board remuneration committee and a member of the board audit and risk management committee of GGL.
Mr. Huang is a practicing solicitor and notary public, and is currently the Managing Partner and Co-Chairman of P. C. Woo & Co., a solicitor firm in Hong Kong. Mr. Huang became a qualified solicitor of Hong Kong in March 1985 and has over 30 years of post-qualification experience. Mr. Huang graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1982 and a Master of Education degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2006.
In 2002, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“The Government of HKSAR”) appointed Mr. Huang as a Justice of the Peace. In July 2018, The Government of HKSAR awarded him a Silver Bauhinia Star for his contributions to public services.
Mr. Huang’s public roles include serving as the chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee of the Labour and Welfare Bureau. He is also a director of Lei Foundation Limited, a Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“HKJC”) and a director of certain group companies of HKJC. He is also a director of Pacific Basin Economic Council Limited.
Mr. Huang was admitted to the Roll of Honour of the Law Society of Hong Kong (“Law Society”) in May 2021. Previously, he was the President of the Law Society from 2007 to 2009. He was also a non-executive director of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC”) and chaired the Investor and Financial Education Council (a subsidiary of the SFC). Mr. Huang was a member of the Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Exchange Fund Advisory Committee as well as a nonexecutive director of the Urban Renewal Authority. He also served as a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service and other public positions.
Mr. Huang is an independent non-executive director of Kidsland International Holdings Limited (listed on the Stock Exchange). He was also an independent non-executive director of Top Glove Corporation Bhd. (listed on Bursa Malaysia and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited) until he resigned on 13 September 2022.
Ms. Ho Yuk Wai Joan
Aged 59, Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in November 2019. She is the Chairman of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee and a member of the Board Nomination Committee of the Company.
Ms. Ho is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute. Ms. Ho graduated from Queen’s University, Canada with a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in Commerce.
Ms. Ho has over 30 years of experience in auditing and advisory services. She was an audit partner of KPMG China financial services group between 2000 and 2015 and was also in charge of the firm’s internal audit, risk and compliance services for financial institutions and the accounting advisory services. Ms. Ho has extensive experience in capital market transactions and conducting operational reviews of banks in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China.
Ms. Ho is currently an independent non-executive director of several other non-listed companies.
Ms. Cheung Man Ying
Aged 58, Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since appointment to the Board in November 2024. She is a member of each of the Board Remuneration Committee and the Board Nomination Committee of the Company.
Ms. Cheung has over 25 years of experience in retail and consumer products, finance and accounting, business management and advisory, digital transformation and e-commerce and people management.
Ms. Cheung is currently an independent director of Shanghai Lily and Beauty Cosmetics Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. She is the owner and chief executive officer of DIEM International Limited (owner of a Japanese brand) and the owner and director of SLO International Limited (brand advisory).
Ms. Cheung previously held various senior executive positions with multinational consumer goods companies, including Henkel Group and Adidas, Greater China.
She graduated from Queen’s University of Belfast with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and also holds a Master of Financial Management from the London School of the Economics and Political Science.
