Board of Directors

KWEK Leng Hai

Mr. KWEK Leng Hai, aged 70, the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Guoco Group Limited (“Guoco”), the Chairman of the Board Nomination Committee and a member of the Board Remuneration Committee of Guoco since 1 September 2016.  He was appointed to the Board in 1990 and assumed the position of the President, Chief Executive Officer of Guoco from 1995 up to 1 September 2016.

He is a non-executive director of GuocoLand Limited (Guoco’s subsidiary listed on Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”)).  He is the non-executive chairman of GL Limited (Guoco’s subsidiary) which was privatised and delisted from the Official List of SGX-ST on 14 June 2021.  He is a director and shareholder of GuoLine Capital Assets Limited, the ultimate holding company of Guoco.  He serves as a non-executive director of Hong Leong Bank Berhad (“HLBB”, a subsidiary listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia”) of Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (Guoco’s associated company listed on Bursa Malaysia)) and Bank of Chengdu Co., Ltd. (an associated company of HLBB and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange) and as the chairman of Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Leong Group subsidiary listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited).

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 a brother of Mr. KWEK Leng San.

Christian Karl NOTHHAFT - Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Christian Karl NOTHHAFT, aged 58, was appointed as an Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guoco Group Limited with effect from 15 April 2024.

Mr. Nothhaft serves as a non-executive director of Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Leong Group subsidiary listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited).

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 YPO Presidents 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 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). He is currently an independent non-executive director of DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, with primary listing on London Stock Exchange and secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda.

CHEW Seong Aun - Group Chief Financial Officer

Mr. CHEW Seong Aun, aged 59, was appointed as an Executive Director of Guoco Group Limited (“Guoco”) with effect from 19 November 2020.  He has been the Group Chief Financial Officer of Guoco since 1 November 2020.

He is a non-executive director of The Rank Group Plc (Guoco’s key subsidiary listed on the London Stock Exchange).  He is also an executive director of GL Limited (Guoco’s subsidiary) which was privatised and delisted from the Official List of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”) on 14 June 2021.  He also serves as a non-executive director of Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Leong Group subsidiary listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited).  He was a non-executive director of GuocoLand Limited (Guoco’s key subsidiary listed on SGX-ST) from January 2021 to March 2023.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Chew had been the chief financial officer of Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (Guoco’s associated company listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad) since 2006 and before that he had held various senior banking positions in the Middle East and Asia for over 10 years.

Mr. Chew obtained a Bachelor of Science (Eng) degree in Civil Engineering (Honours) from Imperial College, University of London and is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.  He is also a member of Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers in Malaysia.  He has over 30 years of experience in finance and banking.

KWEK Leng San

Mr. KWEK Leng San, aged 68, a Non-executive Director of Guoco Group Limited (“Guoco”) since 1990.

He is the chairman of Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad, Hong Leong Industries Berhad, Hume Cement Industries Berhad and Southern Steel Berhad (all being listed subsidiaries of Hong Leong Group and listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad).  He is also a shareholder of GuoLine Capital Assets Limited, the ultimate holding company of Guoco.

He graduated from University of London with a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) and also holds a Master of Science (Finance) from City University London.  He has extensive business experience in various business sectors, including financial services and manufacturing.  He is a brother of Mr. KWEK Leng Hai.

David Michael NORMAN

Mr. David Michael NORMAN, aged 67, an Independent Non-executive Director since July 2013 and a member of both the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Board Nomination Committee of Guoco Group Limited.

He was appointed as a member of both the Takeovers Appeal Committee and the Takeovers and Mergers Panel of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC”) for a term from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024.  He was the chairman of the Share Registrars’ Disciplinary Committee of the SFC from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021.

Mr. Norman studied philosophy and psychology at Oxford University in the United Kingdom and was admitted as a solicitor in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong in 1981 and 1984 respectively.  He was a partner of an international law firm until he resigned in 2010.  Mr. Norman was a non-executive director of South China Holdings Company Limited, listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, up to 31 December 2022.  Mr. Norman has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

Lester G. HUANG, SBS, JP

Mr. Lester Garson HUANG, SBS, JP, aged 63, an Independent Non-executive Director of Guoco Group Limited (“Guoco”) since November 2019.  He is the Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee and a member of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee of Guoco.

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 public services.

Mr. Huang’s public roles include serving as the chairman of the Council of City University of Hong Kong and 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 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 non-executive 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 Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Leong Group subsidiary listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“HKEX”)) and Kidsland International Holdings Limited (listed on HKEX).  He was also an independent non-executive director of Top Glove Corporation Bhd. (listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited) until he resigned on 13 September 2022.

Paul Jeremy BROUGH

Mr. Paul Jeremy BROUGH, aged 66, an Independent Non-executive Director of Guoco Group Limited (“Guoco”) since November 2021 and Chairman of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee and a member of each of the Board Remuneration Committee and Board Nomination Committee of Guoco.

Mr. Brough graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Business Studies.  He is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Brough joined KPMG Hong Kong in 1983 and held appointments as Head of Consulting in 1995 and as Head of Financial Advisory Services in 1997.  In 1999, he was appointed the Asia Pacific Head of KPMG’s Financial Advisory Services and a member of its global advisory steering group.  He held the position of Regional Senior Partner of KPMG Hong Kong from 2009 before retiring in March 2012.

Mr. Brough is currently an independent non-executive director and the chairman of the audit committee of Vitasoy International Holdings Limited (listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited). He is also an independent non-executive director and a member of the audit committee and risk committee of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. He is also an independent non-executive director and the chairman of the audit committee of The Executive Centre Limited; an independent non-executive director of Eagle Investments Holdco (the investment holding company of The LYCRA Company) and Pacific Primary Health Care Holdings Limited as well as a director of Blue Willow Limited, all being privately-owned companies. He also serves as a director of Run Hong Kong Limited, a Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation serving the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.

Mr. Brough was an independent non-executive director of GL Limited (“GL”, Guoco’s subsidiary), which was privatised and delisted from the Official List of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited on 14 June 2021, up to 17 April 2021.  During the tenure, he was also the chairman of both the remuneration committee and the nominating committee, as well as a member of the audit and risk management committee of GL. He was also an independent non-executive director and the chairman of the board risk and credit committee of Habib Bank Zurich (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Kong based restricted-licence bank) up to 28 February 2023 and the chairman of the general committee of The Hong Kong Club up to 11 May 2023. He was also  an independent non-executive director of Toshiba Corporation, which was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Nagoya Stock Exchange, Inc. on 20 December 2023, up to 22 December 2023.