Board of Directors

Dr Raymond OR Ching Fai, aged 69, is Executive Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Company. He was appointed as Independent Non-executive Director of the Company in March 1996 and became Independent Non-executive Chairman of the Board since June 2012 until his re-designation as Executive Chairman and Executive Director effective 1 April 2018. He is also the Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the General Committee of the Board, a director of certain subsidiaries, and a trustee of a charitable trust of the Company.

Dr OR was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Social Science by the City University of Hong Kong in November 2014. He is a non-executive director and non-executive chairman of China Strategic Holdings Limited. He is also an independent non-executive director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, Regina Miracle International (Holdings) Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited. All these companies are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Dr OR was the former vice chairman and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank Limited, the former chairman of Hang Seng Life Limited and a director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited until his retirement in May 2009. He was also the former vice chairman and independent non-executive director of G-Resources Group Ltd., the former independent non-executive director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited and the former deputy chairman and non-executive director of Aquis Entertainment Limited (a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange). He was the former chief executive officer of China Strategic Holdings Limited until he stepped down on 18 January 2018 and was executive director and executive chairman until his re-designation on 1 April 2018.

Mr Anders Christian KRISTIANSEN, aged 52, has been appointed as Executive Director of the Company and Group Chief Executive Officer effective 1 June 2018.  He is a member of the Remuneration Committee and the General Committee of the Board, a director of certain subsidiaries, and a trustee of a charitable trust of the Company. Prior to joining Esprit, he was an industrial advisor for a global private equity fund, Permira.  He was previously the chief executive officer and director of New Look, a global fast fashion apparel company based in London, from January 2013 to September 2017. Under his leadership, New Look transformed its business model from a traditional high street retailer to a strong omnichannel player, with an enhanced focus on brand building. Mr KRISTIANSEN was instrumental to the successful execution of a 5-year strategic plan. Prior to this role, he has held various senior executive roles in the Bestseller Fashion Group China, Staples Inc. in China, and in Lyreco, an office supplies company, where he managed the business in Europe and then in Asia Pacific.

Dr Schmidt-Schultes, aged 53, obtained his PhD in Finance from Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and is an internationally experienced, fully-rounded finance executive. Dr Schmidt-Schultes has most recently served as chief financial officer and executive director of BMI Group Holdings UK Limited. He was the former chief financial officer and executive director of Apleona Group GmbH in 2017 and of Semperit AG Holding (a company listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange) from 2011 to 2017. He was the former deputy group chief financial officer of Telstra Corporation Limited (a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange) from 2007 to 2011.

Prior to this role, Dr Schmidt-Schultes was the finance director and executive director of T-Mobile (UK) Limited (2004-2007) and T-Mobile Austria GmbH (2001-2004).

Mr. Jürgen Alfred Rudolf FRIEDRICH, aged 80, founded Esprit’s European operations in 1976 and has been a Non-executive Director of the Company since 1997. He is a member of the Audit Committee of the Board. Mr FRIEDRICH has over 32 years of experience in the apparel distribution and marketing business and is currently retired in Switzerland.

Mr Alexander Reid HAMILTON, aged 77, has been an Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since August 1995. He is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee and the Risk Management Committee of the Board. Mr HAMILTON is an independent non-executive director of COSCO SHIPPING International (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. and Shangri-La Asia Limited. Both companies are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Mr HAMILTON is also a director of other Hong Kong companies. He was an independent non-executive director of CITIC Limited and Octopus Cards Limited. He was a partner of Price Waterhouse with whom he practiced for 16 years.

Mr Carmelo LEE Ka Sze, aged 59, has been an Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since July 2013. He is the Chairman of the Risk Management Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee of the Board. He is a partner of Messrs. Woo Kwan Lee & Lo, Solicitors & Notaries. Mr LEE is a convenor and member of the Financial Reporting Review Panel of the Financial Reporting Council of Hong Kong, a Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel constituted under the Buildings Ordinance, a member of the InnoHK Steering Committee, a member of the Campaign Committee and a Co-Chairman of the Corporate Challenge Half Marathon of The Community Chest of Hong Kong. He served as the chairman of the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”) from 2012 to 2015 after serving as deputy chairman and member of the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2012 and from 2000 to 2003 respectively. Mr LEE was a member of the SFC (HKEC Listing) Committee until 1 April 2018.

Mr LEE obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from The University of Hong Kong and qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, England and Wales, Singapore and Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Mr LEE is a non-executive director of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited, Safety Godown Company Limited and Termbray Industries International (Holdings) Limited and an independent non-executive director of KWG Property Holding Limited and China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd., all these companies are listed on the Stock Exchange. He was a non-executive director of Hopewell Holdings Limited and Yugang International Limited.  

Mr Norbert Adolf PLATT, aged 71, has been an Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since December 2012. He is the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of the Board. He has 40 years of extensive experience in the industry of luxury goods. Mr PLATT was the chief executive officer of the Richemont group from October 2004 to March 2010. The Richemont group’s luxury goods interests encompass a portfolio of internationally renowned brands including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Montblanc, Chloé and Alfred Dunhill. Under his leadership, the Richemont group recorded significant growth in turnover and profits. Mr PLATT was also a non-executive director of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA (the holding company of the Richemont group which is listed in Switzerland) until his retirement on 13 September 2017.

Prior to acting as chief executive officer of the Richemont group, Mr PLATT was the chief executive officer of Montblanc International GmbH (“Montblanc International”) between 1987 and 2004. Mr PLATT successfully transformed Montblanc International from a maker of writing instruments into a diversified and globally renowned manufacturer of luxury goods. Under his leadership, Montblanc International recorded remarkable growth in its turnover. Mr PLATT remained as the chairman of Montblanc Simplo GmbH based in Hamburg, Germany until 30 June 2013. From 1972 to 1987, Mr PLATT held various chief executive positions in Rollei Singapore and Germany.

Mr PLATT graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Precision Mechanical Engineering, and attended business management and marketing programs at Harvard Business School of Harvard University and INSEAD.

Ms Zerbib, aged 57, is the founder and chairman of Full Jet Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a Shanghai based and China focused brand management and digital agency specializing in digital brand strategy, e-commerce operations and 360 degree marketing. She is a member of the advisory board of Pictet Premium Brands Fund and the China board of Infront Sports & Media AG. She is also a director of Allure Systems, a start-up providing fashion companies with a solution for virtualized apparel enabling virtual try-on.

Ms Zerbib was the former non-executive chairman of Lacoste China and former executive director and chief executive officer of China Dongxiang (Group) Co., Ltd. (a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited). She was the managing director of adidas China from 1994 to 2003 and the president of adidas Greater China Area from 2003 to 2007. She was also a former director of Mecox Lane (a company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market).