King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office and the Thompson Center for Business Case Studies. Roger brings a wealth of experience to the table with his illustrious CV that reads like a who’s who of Hong Kong business. Among other roles, he served as a NonExecutive Director of Orient Overseas (International) Limited and Chief Operating Officer of Orient Overseas (Holdings) Limited; Chairman of Pacific Coffee Limited; President and Chief Executive Officer of Sa Sa International Holdings Limited; President of Harvard Business School Association of Hong Kong; and Standing Committee Member of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Surprisingly, in a previous life, he was a US Naval Officer, and has trained as a licensed pilot. “When I was growing up, I loved aeroplanes and ships, and wanted to be a naval pilot. In the end, my eyesight was not good enough for the Navy, and I ended up serving on the deck of an aircraft carrier as Asia in the spotlight The family office is in its infancy stage in Asia, but as the number of billionaires has grown, the need to pass on family wealth and values, all while maintaining harmony within the family, has become more crucial. This need has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of Asian family offices that are impacting the future, all while family office research has continually neglected Asian perspectives. It’s a gap that Roger King (2006 PhD Finance) is determined to fill. Deeply dedicated to supporting HKUST over the years, Roger is a family business expert who surprises at every turn, and stands as one of our most illustrious in our community. To start with, he is the most senior graduate to date in HKUST, and has been an Honorary Fellow since 2011. In addition to this, Roger presently serves as a Court Member and was previously a Council Member. He is also Adjunct Professor, Senior Advisor and Founding Director of both the Roger and policymakers in promoting quality development in both areas in Hong Kong and beyond. Asia at the crossroads For Roger, the future of Asian family businesses is fascinating and dynamic. “The younger generation wants to do things differently, they are better educated, have studied overseas, and many are even reluctant to join the family business because they seem traditional or even in sunset industries. With COVID-19 and Industry 4.0, things are looking at a radical shakeup, and the way things are conducted from now on will be different from the past. Even the concept of the ‘office’ is completely changed from before. We haven’t seen the end results, it’s a dynamic situation,” says Roger. With change in mind, one of the concepts Roger came up with is “From Family Business to Business Family”, which is a hybrid concept that sees the traditional revenue streams fund new ventures. The result is a layered portfolio that reflects the old and new, allowing traditional business to modernize, while the new generation ventures can leverage on existing connections and resources. Another important concept is the ‘3Ps’ – preservation of Family Wealth, Harmony, and Value Systems, which is more crucial to Asian family businesses as the new guard takes over, and the next generation takes over. Firmly established in Hong Kong A keen supporter of HKUST over many years, Roger donated generously in 2015 to our Alumni Endowment Fund to help provide a holistic learning experience to our students. On top of this, HKUST recently received a generous donation from his children Stephen, Daphne and Geoffrey to support research on Asian family business and family offices. Roger is the brother-in-law of Tung Chee Wah, HKSAR’s first Chief Executive, so he is uniquely placed to understand the ins and outs of business in Hong Kong. 6 | HKUST Alumni HKUST Alumni | 7 Connecting to alumni Another one of Roger’s missions is encouraging the next generation and helping alumni connect to HKUST. Having grown up in Shanghai and the United States, and spent the majority of his career in Hong Kong and Asia, Roger knows the importance of bridging cultures in the new economy. “The world is complex and yet more interconnected than ever – remember to link back to your alma mater, network with fellow alumni, and mentor our students too,” he says. For young people seeking to make it big, what would Roger advise? “I have this concept of ‘CCKP’ – you need self- Confidence, Commitment, Knowledge and Passion. If you are missing any of these, your chances of success are slim,” he says. I have this concept of ‘CCKP’ — you need self-Confidence, Commitment, Knowledge and Passion. If you are missing any of these, your chances of success are slim. an electronics officer,” he says. An expert in family business Roger is known as one of the world’s leading experts in Family Business, Family Office, Entrepreneurship, Corporate and Family Governance. Following a generous donation to HKUST, the Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office was named in October 2022. A key research arm of the HKUST Business School, the Center was established over a decade ago and has become the world’s premier research and teaching center in Asian family business, with added focus on family office, a fast-growing sector in Asia. Hong Kong is uniquely placed as a finance hub to take advantage of this emerging market, with the added bonus of tax concessions for eligible family investment management entities managed by single-family offices. The naming of the Center reflects its twin foci in Asian family business and family office, and its mission to bring together academics, practitioners, Alumni Stories
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