Peter Woo
Peter Woo Kwong-ching | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1946 Shanghai, China |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Wheelock and Company and The Wharf (Holdings) |
Peter Woo Kwong-ching, recipient of the GBM, GBS, and honored as a JP (; born September 5, 1946), is a prominent Hong Kong billionaire entrepreneur. He held the position of chairman at both Wheelock and Company and The Wharf (Holdings) until May 19, 2015. As of April 2021, his estimated net worth stands at $14 billion.
Education
Originally from Shanghai, born in 1946 with family origins in Ningbo, Zhejiang, Woo relocated to Hong Kong in 1949. He received his early education at St Stephen's College located in Stanley, Hong Kong. Woo then pursued higher education at the University of Cincinnati, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in physics. During his time there, he served as senior class president and was an active member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, maintaining ongoing involvement with the organization. Subsequently, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School in New York.
Life and career
Following his academic achievements, Woo began working at Chase Manhattan Bank in both New York and Hong Kong. It was during this period that he met Bessie, who would become his wife, despite initial objections from his family regarding their interracial marriage.
Woo's entrepreneurial focus centers on property development across Hong Kong, China, and Singapore. His corporate group controls significant assets such as Harbour City and Times Square in Hong Kong. Additionally, his business portfolio includes ventures like i-Cable Communications, Modern Terminals, and Marco Polo Hotels. He is also proprietor of the upscale retail conglomerate LCJG, which encompasses brands like Lane Crawford and the fashion retailer Joyce. Beyond his enterprises, Woo contributes to advisory boards for leading firms including Chase Manhattan Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and General Electric.
Political and non-profit
Woo holds membership on the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
His past leadership appointments include:
- Chairman of the Council at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 1993 to 1997
- Founding chairman of the Hong Kong Environment and Conservation Fund Committee between 1994 and 2004
- Chairman of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority from 1995 until 2000
- Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council serving from 2000 through 2007
In the 1996 Hong Kong Chief Executive election, Woo was a candidate competing alongside Yang Ti-liang and Tung Chee-hwa, with Tung ultimately securing victory.
Achievements and honours
In 1993, the Government of Hong Kong designated Woo as a Justice of the Peace. He was subsequently honored with the Gold Bauhinia Star in 1998 and later received the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2012.
See also
External links
- Peter Woo
- Wheelock
- Hong Kong Portraits of Power - Evelyn Huang and Lawrence Jeffrey, Little Brown 1995, p 102
- Forbes List