Lawrence Ho

Lawrence Ho is a businessman from Hong Kong and Macau. He is the chairman and CEO of Melco International Development Limited, a member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the only son of Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho and his second wife Lucina Laam. His elder sisters include Pansy Ho, Daisy Ho, Maisy Ho, and Josie Ho. He is also the step-cousin of former TVB host Maria Leitao. He is referred to in the media as "Young Casino King."

Biography

Ho attended Wah Yan College, Hong Kong in his early years and graduated in 1999 from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in Canada. After graduation, he worked in Citibank’s credit risk management department and then joined Jardine Fleming Securities as an assistant in the Asian Derivatives Department for seven months before being promoted to assistant manager.

In October 2000, Ho invested in iAsia Technology Limited (now known as Winto Group Holdings), becoming executive director and listing the company on the Growth Enterprise Market in Hong Kong. The company acquired three tech firms, but following the dot-com bubble burst, he became CEO and vice chairman in August 2002. He currently serves as co-chairman and CEO of Melco Group.

In November 2001, Ho was appointed managing director of Melco International, a company under his father Stanley Ho. He was responsible for the operations of Jumbo Floating Restaurant, which he rebranded as "Jumbo Kingdom" after renovation to attract tourists.

On 16 March 2006, Stanley Ho resigned as chairman of Melco International, and Lawrence Ho succeeded him as chairman and CEO. As of 15 March 2006, he held 35.4% of Melco International’s shares, making him the largest shareholder.

In April 2006, Ho was invited by the Hong Kong Securities Association to run for director of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He received a net vote count of 21.0053 million but was not elected. In October 2006, Ho was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong.

On 27 October 2015, Ho's project Studio City in Macau officially opened.

Family

In November 2001, Ho married Luo Xiu-yin, granddaughter of Vitasoy founder Lo Kwee-seong, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Caine Road, Hong Kong. On 16 and 17 November, they held a wedding banquet at the Grand Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with over 100 tables, costing approximately HKD 20 million.

In September 2006, Ho’s wife gave birth to a daughter, named Ho Hoi Tsz, at Hong Kong’s Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. The name was given by Stanley Ho.

See also

• Ho Tung family

External links

• Rising Star in Gambling: Lawrence Ho. Primecom. 2007-03-14
• Stanley Ho Resigns as Chairman of Melco; Son Succeeds. Sing Tao Net. 2006-03-17
• Stanley Ho Resigns from Melco, Succeeded by Son. Ta Kung Pao. 2006-03-17
• Casino King Spends 60 Million on Son’s Wedding Banquet (01/11/18) . Southern Net. 2002-04-09
• Star News – Daughter-in-law Rumored Pregnant, Stanley Ho Delighted. Sing Tao Global. 2006-05-11
• Lawrence Ho Thanks Industry Support for HKEX Director Bid, Hopes Experience Can Contribute. Yahoo! Finance. 2006-04-11
• Ho’s Wife and Mother Frequent Hospitals, New Grandchild Kept Secret. Apple Daily. 2006-09-30
• Stanley Ho’s Son Named Outstanding Young Person. Ming Pao. 2006-10-08