K11’s Adrian Cheng resurfaces in French cultural exchange with President Emmanuel Macron

‘Our focus is on the global development of the cultural industry,’ former New World Development CEO says

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French President Emmanuel Macron and Adrian Cheng Chi-kong. Photo: Handout (right), the former chief executive of New World Development (NWD) and founder of the K11 Art Foundation (KAF), recently met with French President Emmanuel Macron and his cabinet, the first time he became active and reappeared in public after stepping down. Pictured January 25th, 2025. HANDOUT

Published: 6:06pm, 3 Feb 2025Updated: 6:23pm, 3 Feb 2025

Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, the founder of the K11 Art Foundation (KAF) and former CEO of New World Development (NWD), recently met French President Emmanuel Macron, in his first high profile appearance of the new year.

“I had the honour of meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and his cabinet last week, where we engaged in an inspiring discussion about the role of cultural exchange as a vital bridge connecting East and West,” Cheng said in a social media post on Monday.

Cheng and Macron had a private discussion at the Elysee Palace on January 25. During the meeting, Cheng articulated his ambition to foster cultural exchange between France and China through KAF, which he founded in 2010.

“Our focus is on the global development of the cultural industry,” Cheng said.

“This dialogue not only highlighted these opportunities but also paved the way for innovative cooperation in the global cultural sector.”

In late September, Cheng abruptly stepped down as CEO of NWD after the company reported a record full-year loss of HK$19.7 billion (US$2.5 billion). He was initially replaced by chief operating officer Eric Ma Siu-cheung, though he was out barely two months later in favour of current CEO Echo Huang Shaomei.