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About Me

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Starting my career as an officer cadet in the British Army Intelligence Corps, I later served as a platoon commander in frontline operational units for four years with the Royal Hong Kong Police (RHKP). The RHKP taught me my Cantonese. During this time, I received a Governor's Commendation for my work as a tactical unit team commander supporting a protection detail. My journey then led me to commercial roles, beginning as an Area Manager for Aldi in the UK and later transitioning to various retail operations positions in China with A.S Watson, where I learned Mandarin.

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Subsequently, my career path took me to Boots Retail International, where I undertook diverse Business Development roles in the APAC region before pursuing an MBA in M&A at the Edinburgh Business School. This educational pursuit paved the way for my role as the head of M&A for Specsavers International, overseeing the research, acquisition, and integration processes for Tva Bla and Blic within the Specsavers Group.

​Transitioning to adidas from 2005 to 2009, I served as the APAC Retail Leader, instrumental in establishing the regional retail team/centre of excellence and operational model while spearheading the launch of flagship stores in key locations like Shibuya, Tokyo, and Myungdong, Seoul.

 

In the following years, I ventured into establishing the APAC business for True Religion Brand Jeans, setting up direct subsidiaries in South Korea, China, and Japan. Subsequently, as a portfolio Managing Director for VF Corporation in APAC, I oversaw renowned brands like 7 For all Mankind, Nautica, Kipling, Eastpak, Napapijri, and Timberland, leading significant integration and turnaround projects.

 

In late 2018, I had the honour of being part of the founder group that established Kontoor Brands Incorporated, a spin-off entity from VF Corp encompassing Lee Jeans & Wrangler Jeans, subsequently listed on NYSE in May 2019. Within Kontoor Brands, I serve as a key member of the global leadership team, overseeing the operational management of the APAC businesses.

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Key achievements during my tenure include:

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  • Lee Jeans became the no.1 denim brand in China

  • Successfully introducing Wrangler to the Chinese market

  • Restructuring the Indian subsidiary from a loss-making entity to a profitable licensee model

  • Spearheading the launch of Lee in Korea, achieving a USD$20m revenue within a year through the licensee framework.

 

In my most recent role as CEO & Managing Partner at One Fit Holdings in the UAE, a sports & fitness focused private equity entity founded by Hamad Al Sayer, I led the organization to some notable accomplishments:

 

  • Achieving 37% revenue growth

  • Increasing enterprise-wide club EBITDA by 7x

  • Securing USD8m in capital from UHNWI

  • Elevating the business valuation by 55%

  • Acquiring a diverse portfolio of fitness brands to foster expansion and diversification

  • Successful establishment of One Shot Events, a prominent semi-pro fight promotion in the UAE

 

My educational background includes a BA in Oriental Studies, an MBA in M&A, professional certifications in Executive Leadership from INSEAD, and a diploma in Private Markets Investments from SAID Business School, Oxford.

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