Retail group AS Watson has promoted Malina Ngai to Group CEO, effective May 1. Ngai is currently Group Chief Operating Officer, AS Watson, and CEO, AS Watson (Asia & Europe).
Dominic Lai, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison and Group Managing Director of AS Watson, will assume the position of Chairman of AS Watson. All senior leaders who currently report to Lai will now report to Ngai.
Lai commented: “After a very fulfilling 17 years of leading the AS Watson Group, I think it is the appropriate time to pass on the baton. Malina has been crucial in successfully driving AS Watson’s digital transformation, implementing the O+O (Offline plus Online) business model, and fostering positive cultural change in the past decade.”
Nagi has worked for CK Hutchison and AS Watson for 24 years. She joined CK Hutchison (formerly Hutchison Whampoa), the parent company of AS Watson, in 2000. She started at Hutchison Port Holdings, and then moved to Hutchison Whampoa Corporate Affairs Department. She was transferred to AS Watson in 2001 and has taken on various leadership roles, becoming Group Chief Operating Officer in 2013, and CEO of AS Watson (Asia & Europe) in 2019.
Before joining CK Hutchison, Ngai worked in sports marketing consultancy and the Hong Kong government’s statutory body for sports development.
Last year, BW Confidential presented Ngai with its Executive of the Year Award at The Beauty Party in Cannes, France. Ngai was recognized for her visionary leadership and contribution to the retail group’s success.