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XXIV - 2015

XXIV - 2015
The latest news, analysis and opinion on XXIV - 2015. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Camille Goutal

Perfumer Camille Goutal knows that creating a winning formula takes time

As a perfumer, Camille Goutal knows that creating a winning formula takes time. But it's not the blending, testing and making of a scent that requires months - or in some cases, years. "I think a lot about the project before starting to work on the formula," she says. "I gather all my ideas and emotions in my head, and sometimes, it can take a very long time. It's like a puzzle; everything needs to be in the right place in my mind."

For actress Michele Reis, motherhood is the role of a lifetime

Top chef Pierre Gagnaire takes time to build relationship with staff

Matteo Torre, president and CEO of Ferrari Greater China, relishes the challenge of 'competing with time'

Ferrari's relationship with time is "complicated". Often it's a race against time to "deliver breakthrough after breakthrough". In the words of Matteo Torre, president and CEO of Ferrari Greater China, who clearly relishes the challenge, "Ferrari is always competing with time".

Matteo Torre, president and CEO of Ferrari Greater China. Caption: Photo: Bruce Yan

Ariane Zagury of Rue Madame made the leap from investment banker to fashion entrepreneur

Sometimes life leads you to do things that you've never dreamed of. Take Ariane Zagury, an investment banker who ended up in the fashion business as the founder of retailer Rue Madame. 

Rebecca Wei, president of Christie's Asia, understands the importance of split-second decisions

Undoubtedly, the greatest challenge in the auction business is making split-second decisions quickly and in time. When the hammer comes down, you've either got it or you've lost it, and the stakes can be as high as hundreds of millions of dollars. 

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Thomas Flohr, founder of VistaJet, says his business makes companies more efficient

Thomas Flohr is a true jet setter. The founder of VistaJet, a Swiss charter airline firm founded in 2004, clocks in over 700 hours on planes each year. 

Thomas Flohr, CEO of VistaJet. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi is pushing the yacht company full speed ahead

For Alberto Galassi, the CEO and director of the Ferretti Group, time is one of the most valuable commodities when it comes to business. It means the difference between incredible success, total failure and everything in between. 

Man of many talents Kirk Lazarus seamlessly juggles his businesses and indulgence in sports

Kirk Lazarus wears many different hats. These days, he readily swaps between his interior designer hat, hotelier hat and retail magnate hat - all in one day sometimes - while somehow finding time to indulge in the many sports he loves. 

Singer and founder of Opera Hong Kong Warren Mok is a practical dreamer

Warren Mok considers himself a dreamer - but a practical one. The idea of a "practical dreamer" may seem like an oxymoron, but the opera singer and founder of Opera Hong Kong explains: "I have my dreams, but I know where I stand. You have to find a balance, [find out] where you stand, and go from there. Don't overestimate yourself but don't undervalue yourself either."

Warren Mok of Opera Hong Kong. Photo: Franke Tsang

Glenn Pushelberg embraces the pressures of time in his interior design career

Glenn Pushelberg is the human equivalent of a popular Pinterest account. Not only is his life undeniably beautiful - admittedly due to his job as a globally renowned designer - but his proactive mindset puts the rest of us to shame. In short, he's the kind of person we've always wished we could be. 

Glenn Pushelberg of Yabu Pushelberg

Naturopathic physician Ardyce Yik embraces holistic treatment and natural medicines

In naturopathic medicine, the aim is to address the underlying cause of illness, to treat the whole person and to focus on disease prevention, rather than simply treat or suppress symptoms. Dr Ardyce Yik, a licensed naturopathic physician from Canada, uses evidence-based natural medicines to help her patients to achieve optimal health.

For veteran broadcaster Robert Chua, time is of the essence for his new culinary endeavours

It is obvious to those who meet Robert Chua that he's passionate about what he does. While the legendary broadcaster and businessman spends most of his time based at his latest venture, A La Bakery, he also finds time to make television programmes such as the reality series Someone Who Cares, which aired on TVB.

How Dr Ralf Altmeyer's curiosity led him into science 'with a focus on finding new vaccines'

Dr Ralf Altmeyer likes to understand how things work. He found it intriguing from a young age - how a virus worked, how it caused disease in one person and not another. It prompted him to go into science, "with a focus on finding solutions - newmedicines, new treatments, new vaccines". 

Dr Raf Altmeyer, Director General of Institut Pasteur Shanghai. Photo: David Wong

Entrepreneur Yijia Tiong juggles a busy professional life

As a key executive of a well-respected media group in Hong Kong, Yijia Tiong juggles a busy professional life. Besides her family business commitments, her quaint Japanese eatery, Tabibito, nestled in Sheung Wan's artsy Po Hing Fong, is one of the best-kept secrets among local gourmands. "I'm planning two more ventures coming up, and a craft beer brewery," says the proud entrepreneur.

Yijia Tiong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Fund manager Cheah Cheng Hye of Value Partners says time is the secret to success in finance

For some, time management is of the utmost importance, where every second and minute counts. Those in financial services are locked into the concept of time. To them, timing is crucial when it comes to executing a trade. And for Cheah Cheng Hye, "time is one of the most important secrets of success for people in the financial services industry". 

Ken Grier of The Macallan whisky distillery keeps in high spirits in work and leisure time

As brand director of The Macallan, The Edrington Group, Ken Grier is well aware of how crucial timing is when making Scotch whisky. Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed, and it has since built a reputation for creating one of the world's finest single-malt whiskies.

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Samuel Kung, founder of Shanghai's Museum of Contemporary Art, is a devoted curator of Chinese art

Samuel Kung is a man who wears two very artistic hats. The founder of Shanghai's Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) is also a Chinese jade connoisseur, running a successful business as a dealer and designer of the gemstone. 

Samuel Kung, Chairman and Director of Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai. Photo: Edmond So

Song Hoi-see crosses time zones to build pay-in airport lounge empire

When travelling, Song Hoi-see always brings along a watch showing different time zones. "As we operate in different continents, I travel extensively back to back across various time zones. When I arrive at a destination, I need to know the exact local time and the time of my businesses in other cities so that I can catch up with what they are doing and talk with them if necessary," says the founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Lounge. 

Marathon man Quincy Wong Lee-man makes time to compete in endurance races around the globe

Quincy Wong Lee-man could easily be mistaken for a professional athlete, having completed more prestigious endurance events than many serious runners over the past few years. But as the head of one of Hong Kong's largest independent financial advisers, with some 2,000 staff, his time management is as impressive as his mental and physical strength for finishing gruelling races.

Nick Mowbray of the toy brand Zuru wants to give something back after his early success

With no money apart from a small loan from his parents and a strong dose of entrepreneurial spirit, Nick Mowbray moved to mainland China with his brother and sister to start a toy company when he was only 18 and straight out of high school. 

Nick Mowbray of ZURU. Photo: Bruce Yan

Kirk Martin, CEO of CÉ LA VI, weighs the importance of each project by the time it takes to complete

Expanding an exciting restaurant-lounge-nightclub concept across different countries in Asia really doesn't leave Kirk Martin, CEO of CE LA VI, with much time to spare.

Kirk Martin, CEO of CE LA VI. Photo: Edmond So

Time on the ocean gives Norwegian sailor Knut Frostad space to think

Norwegian sailor Knut Frostad could have been a musician. However, he fell in love with sailing when he was a child. "Actually, it was only when I discovered windsurfing that I absolutely fell in love with sailing," he recalls. "It was the feeling of having the wind in your hands."

For veteran Hong Kong jeweller Tayma Page Allies, patience is key in building up a collection

Time has become a precious commodity for veteran jeweller Tayma Page Allies who is known for her one-off handmade pieces using rare coloured gemstones. Her swanky boutique in Landmark Prince's Building is a testament to her hard work and determination to succeed.

Tayma Page Allies, founder/creative director of Tayma Fine Jewellery. Photo: Dickson Lee
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