MANAGEMENT

About Us

Executive Directors

Mr. TAOCHAIFU Choofuang, (also known as C.F. TAO) is an Executive Director, Chairman of the Company and a founder of the Group. He is responsible for determining the overall business strategies of the Group. He graduated from Nanjing University 南京大學 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. TAOCHAIFU had played a significant role in property investment and property development activities in the PRC since 1978. One of the most important PRC projects that Mr. TAOCHAIFU participated in was the development of Nanjing Jinling Hotel ( 南京金陵飯店) in Nanjing, one of the earliest 5-star hotels built in the PRC following the “opening up” of the PRC to the outside world in 1978. He was appointed as a director of New Heritage Investments Limited (“NH Investments”) in 1984. He was involved in establishing and supervising 北京亮馬河大廈有限公司 (Beijing Landmark Towers Co., Ltd.) (“BLTCL”), the joint venture with Beijing Tourism Administration to develop the Beijing Landmark Towers complex. Mr. TAOCHAIFU is the deputy chairman and an executive director of BLTCL. He was appointed as a director of New Heritage Development Limited (“NH Development”) in 1991. From 1991 onwards, he was responsible for forming 蘇州錦華苑建設發展管理有限公司 (Suzhou Garden Villa Development and Management Co., Ltd.) (“SGVDM”) and supervising the overall development of Suzhou Garden Villa and Suzhou Garden Court. He is also the chairman of SGVDM. Mr. TAOCHAIFU was accredited as an Honorary Citizen by the municipal government of Suzhou in 1995. He was also a former independent non-executive director of Jiangsu Expressway Company Limited, a company listed on the Main Board. Mr. TAOCHAIFU is the Honorary President of Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations Limited. He was granted the “World Outstanding Chinese” award in 2008. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctor Degree from The University of West Alabama in 2008. Mr. TAOCHAIFU was appointed as an executive director of the Company on 23 December 2004 and is the father of Mr. TAO Richard and Mr. TAO Paul.

Mr. TAO Richard, is an Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the Company. He is responsible for the strategic planning and corporate development of the Group. Mr. TAO has a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and two Masters Degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was appointed as a director of NH Development, NH Investments and SGVDM in 2000, 2001 and 2004 respectively. He was appointed as an executive director of the Company on 23 December 2004. He is a son of Mr. TAOCHAIFU Choofuang and the brother of Mr. TAO Paul.

Mr. TAO Paul (also known as TAOCHAIFU Porn), is the Managing Director of the Company. He graduated from the University of Cambridge, England with a Master of Arts degree. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Real Estate from the University of Greenwich, England and participated in the Program for Management Development at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, USA. Mr. TAO has been actively involved in property development and investment in the PRC for over 15 years since joining the Group. Mr. TAO was initially responsible for the sales and marketing activities for the projects in Suzhou, and latterly in general management. He is a member of The 12th Committee of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference 中國人民政治協商會議江蘇省蘇州市第十 二屆委員會委員. Mr. TAO is also a qualified solicitor in Hong Kong. He was appointed as a director of NH Development, SGVDM and NH Investments in 1997, 1999 and 2001 respectively. Mr. TAO was also appointed as a director of BLTCL in 2006. He was appointed as an executive director of the Company on 23 December 2004. He is a son of Mr. TAOCHAIFU Choofuang and the brother of Mr. TAO Richard.

Mr. KONG Mui Sum Lawrence, is an Executive Director of the Company. He graduated in 1970 from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with honours majoring in Economics and Accounting. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, being qualified in 1977. He joined Ocean Shipping & Enterprises Limited in 1970 and has over 20 years of senior management experience. He joined the Group’s associated companies in November 1999 and has been actively involved in the business planning and development of the Group’s business in PRC, including but not limited to contract negotiations with third party professionals and contractors as well as project management. He was appointed as an executive director of the Company on 23 December 2004.

Mr. YIM Chun Leung, is an Executive Director of the Company. Mr. YIM is a fellow member of The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, a certified public accountant of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Mr. YIM also holds a Master of Business Administration degree. Mr. YIM has more than 26 years’ experience in auditing, accounting and finance fields. Mr. YIM had worked for several listed companies as director or engaged in senior management position. Mr. YIM was appointed as an executive director of the Company on 23 December 2004 and is responsible for corporate finance matters of the Group.

Non-Executive Director

Mr. CHAN Bernard Charnwut, GBS, JP, is a Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. CHAN is a graduate and is currently a Trustee of Pomona College in California, U.S.A.. He is a Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. He serves as the Chairman of Lingnan University, the Antiquities Advisory Board, the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings, the Hong Kong-Thailand Business Council, the Council for Sustainable Development and the Vice Chairman of the Council of Oxfam Hong Kong. In addition, Mr. CHAN serves as an advisor of Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Hong Kong Branch and the Vice Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Mr. CHAN is currently an executive director and the President of both Asia Financial Holdings Ltd. and Asia Insurance Company, Limited. He is a director of City e-Solutions Limited, an independent non-executive director of each of Chen Hsong Holdings Limited, Kingboard Laminates Holdings Limited, China Resources Enterprise, Limited and Yau Lee Holdings Limited, all of which are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”). Mr. CHAN is also a director of Wing Lung Bank Limited (which was delisted from the Stock Exchange in 2009). He was appointed as a non-executive director of the Company on 14 November 2005.

Independent Non-Executive Directors

Mr. WONG Gary Ka Wai, is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. WONG graduated from The University of British Columbia with a Master Degree of Business Administration in Finance and Management Information Systems, and a Degree of Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the Association of Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada. Mr. WONG has been working for a number of international financial institutions and has numerous experiences in the banking industry. Currently, he is a manager in Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited in Hong Kong. He has internal controls and financial reporting experience. Mr. WONG was appointed as an independent non executive director of the Company on 14 November 2005.

Mr. SUN Leland Li Hsun, is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. SUN graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Master Degree of Business Administration in 1986. Mr. SUN is the Chief Executive Officer and a founder of Pan Asian Mortgage Company Limited, a mortgage securitization conduit. Mr. SUN has over 20 years of secondary mortgage market experience in Asia and the United States, directly involved in the structuring, trading and distribution of mortgage-backed securities globally. In 1997, Mr. SUN was appointed by the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR government as the first Chief Operating Officer of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation and was entrusted with managing this 100% government-owned company. Previously, Mr. SUN was an Executive Director in the Fixed Income International Sales Department of GS (Asia) Securities Limited and was employed by Goldman Sachs from July 1986 to October 1994. He was also a Senior Managing Director of the Emerging Markets Fixed Income Sales Department with Bear Stearns Asia Limited from October 1994 to February 1996. He was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Company on 14 November 2005.

Mr. CHAN Norman Enrique, is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong from September 2001 to January 2002. He has experience in architectural design. Currently, he is a director of BTR Workshop Limited, an architectural and design company based in Hong Kong. He was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Company on 14 November 2005.