The Resilient Entrepreneur – Dr John CHAN Chun-tung
Coming
from a family of nine in a cramped squatter settlement, Dr John Chan
Chun-tung rose to become chairman of a corporation with 4,000
employees. That's the spirit of entrepreneurship at its best!
Dr Chan is a truly deserving recipient of CityU's First
Distinguished Alumni Award.
Establishing Chaifa Investment Ltd as an agent for the "Playboy"
fashion label in 1986, he was quickly recognised as an outstanding
businessman. The Young Industrialist Award of Hong Kong in 1996 was
followed by his being named in the Top Ten Talented Founders of
Business in China in 2006.
But Dr Chan's career hasn't always been plain sailing. The Asian
financial crisis in 1997 hit him hard, leaving behind debts of
HK$300 million. And the SARS epidemic saw his retail business plunge
by a massive 90 per cent.
Still, he rode out both crises, making sure that his company could
stand tall during the recent global financial tsunami.
Looking back at his time in the CityU Executive Master of Business
Administration (EMBA) programme in 2004 and Doctor of Business
Administration (DBA) programme in 2006, Dr Chan commented that "the
training offered me a new perspective and a more systematic way to
get through the challenging times and move forward."
Dr Chan is currently Vice-President of the Hong Kong Economic and
Trade Association, and a member of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He also enjoys
sharing his marketing experience and insights with university
students from Hong Kong, the mainland and Macau. "Mingling with
students makes me feel young," he said, and smiled.
He also provides internships for CityU MBA students at his company
in the mainland. "Local students should seize the opportunity to
broaden their vision through working in the mainland," Dr Chan
emphasised. "Gaining first-hand experience in the booming mainland
market helps strengthen their competitive edge."
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