Jean Eric Salata
Founding Partner and CEO, Baring Private Equity Asia
Wharton graduate Jean Salata, a Hong Kong resident for three decades, numbers in the top 50 of the city’s wealthiest. The Chilean launched Barings Asia investments arm and then led a management buy-out to found Baring Private Equity Asia in 2000. Salata previously worked for the Pong family as Executive Vice-President of Finance of Shiu Wing Steel.
Jay Shaw
Co-Founder and Head of Advisory, Asian Sky Group
Jay Shaw recently returned to aviation consultancy firm Asian Sky Group, which he co-founded in 2012. Over the years he accrued plenty of air miles in sales at Metrojet, Heliservices and Bombardier Aerospace Flexjet Asia Pacific, and founded two other business jet companies. Shaw, the grand-nephew of late film mogul Sir Run Run Shaw, also co-founded Business Aviation Asia, the biggest operator of privately-owned business jets in Greater China.
Neil Shen
Founding and Managing Partner, Sequoia Capital China
Having received his first degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and his Master’s from Yale, billionaire Neil Shen is best known as the co-founder of Ctrip.com, the massive Chinese online travel agency. Currently, he is the Founding and Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital China, the mainland branch of a successful Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
Fanny Sieh
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Maximal Concepts
From the entertainment industry to ball queen to F&B entrepreneur, Fanny Sieh has mastered a variety of public personas since returning from New York University, where she studied English literature and humanities. Maximal Concepts owns and manages a host of smart eateries including Brickhouse, Limewood and Mott 32.
Gerald Siu Chi-shing
Managing Director, Hong Kong Funeral Home
Following in the footsteps of his late father, Siu Ming, Gerald Siu runs Hong Kong Funeral Home, the city’s oldest funeral service provider. Continuing the family’s philanthropic traditions, he has championed the Community Chest, Rotary Club and Junior Police Call over the years. Siu is also a Director of San Ho Enterprises Ltd and a long-time supporter of the Open University of Hong Kong. His donation facilitated the naming of The Siu Ming & Tsang Fung Kwan Nursing Skills Education Unit in honour of his parents.
Douglas So
Founder and Director, F11 Foto Museum
A corporate lawyer with a law degree from the University of Hong Kong, Douglas So’s lifelong passion for heritage conservation and photography saw him found the Happy Valley-based F11 Foto Museum and f22 foto space in Tsim Sha Tsui. Charity is close to his heart as well, and he currently serves as Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. So also chairs the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, and the Antiquities Advisory Board.
Andreas Sohmen-Pao
Chairman, BW Group
Andreas Sohmen-Pao stepped into the top position at his family’s massive Singapore-based maritime company, BW Group, in 2014 following the retirement of his father, Helmut Sohmen. His grandfather would have been proud – Sir Y.K. Pao once owned the world’s largest shipping company – as under the leadership of the Oxford-educated scion, BW has grown to amass nearly 400 ships, including the biggest fleet of gas carriers on the high seas.
Mei Mei Song
Brand and Product Transformation Director, Plaza Premium Group
Having studied economics and politics at the University of Edinburgh, Mei Mei toyed with becoming a politician, but ultimately joined her parents at Plaza Premium Group; the world’s first independent airport lounge operator founded by her father, Malaysian entrepreneur Song Hoi-see, in 1988. Today, as Brand and Product Transformation Director, she is growing its global footprint while also introducing lounge convenience to train travellers.
Candice Suen-Sieber
Co-Founder and Director, Bite Limited
Candice, along with brother Aaron, has masterminded a growing family food empire. Starting with Triple O’s, which they grew up with in Vancouver, then Yo Mama, Ciao Chow, Panino Giusto and Grom, Bite has expanded as fast as the local appetite for niche Western dining imports. Suen, who is married to fitness trainer Kape Sieber, oversees the company’s operations and finances.
Peter Sun Kwok-wah
CEO and Executive Director, KFM Kingdom Holdings Ltd
Having started a metal stamping factory in Kwai Chung in 1987, Peter Sun co-founded and heads metal engineering solution provider KFM Kingdom Holdings. The innovative industrialist collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to build an electric car in 2003. His long list of civic appointments spans Chairman of the Blind Sports Federation and Honorary Director of Yan Chai Hospital.