Hong Kong

2016 is Hong Kong's year.

The picture remains weak due to falling consumer confidence.

Behind the bright facades of their shop windows, there is a darkening gloom enveloping Hong Kong retailers. And it's no wonder: August 2016 was the 16th consecutive month of declining sales in the sector.

Survey showed they're not doing enough to retain them.

Headwinds still exist but aren’t worse, analysts say.

Risk appetite has been rising since 2Q.

And spending has also been alarmingly reduced.

Tongchuangjiuding Investment Management Group Co., Ltd. (“JD Group”) announced that Lennard Yong has joined JD Group on 13 September 2016 as Regional CEO of its insurance business based in Hong Kong. He will work with key partners in JD Group to expand the insurance business across key markets in Asia. Its wholly-owned subsidiary FTLife Insurance Company Limited is one Hong Kong’s largest life insurance companies. JD Group is committed to becoming an insurance-centric financial services platform operating on a global scale. The Group was listed in China National Equities Exchange and Quotations in 2014 (NEEQ: 430719). The main business scope covers three sectors, namely, investment, internet finance, and insurance. Its PE investment subsidiary was successively named as “China Top 10 PE Firms” from 2009 to 2015. “JD is pleased to have Mr. Yong with his extensive international insurance experience, operating at a local, regional and group level spanning Australia, Asia and Europe. We are excited with his arrival to accelerate the building of an international financial services conglomerate based in Hong Kong with a Chinese heritage” said Mr. Fang Lin, Chairman of JD Group's insurance business. Mr. Yong was previously CEO of Hong Kong for global insurance conglomerates, such as ING Group and MetLife. His experience ranges across all aspects of life insurance, general insurance, pensions and asset management. Under Mr. Yong’s leadership, these award-winning companies achieved above-market growth, developed new distribution channels and established digital presence in a highly competitive market. Mr. Yong is an active participant in Hong Kong’s financial services development. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, he is an advisor to the HK Government as member of the Insurance Advisory Committee, member of the Life Insurance Advisory Board of the new Independent Insurance Authority, Past Chairman of the HK Federation of Insurers - Life Insurance Council, and a member of the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce (HK). His professional accreditations include membership in the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Australia) and CPA (Australia). He attended a Harvard Business School corporate program in 2015, IMD (Lausanne) corporate program in 2007 and has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business degree from two universities in Australia. 

Any business leader will tell you the importance of attracting and retaining quality hires in a company – after all, we're only as strong as our weakest link. In spite of this, research by Robert Half International revealed that many companies still made poor hiring decisions. In fact, it is estimated that supervisors still spend 17 percent of their time managing bad hires in the company – precious time that could otherwise be used more productively.

Chinese companies are snapping up quality office assets.

In a press release, Tongchuangjiuding Investment Management Group Co., Ltd. (“JD Group”) announced that Lennard Yong has joined JD Group on 13 September 2016 as Regional CEO of its insurance business based in Hong Kong. He will work with key partners in JD Group to expand the insurance business across key markets in Asia. Its wholly-owned subsidiary FTLife Insurance Company Limited is one Hong Kong’s largest life insurance companies. JD Group is committed to becoming an insurance-centric financial services platform operating on a global scale. The Group was listed in China National Equities Exchange and Quotations in 2014. The main business scope covers three sectors, namely, investment, internet finance, and insurance. Its PE investment subsidiary was successively named as “China Top 10 PE Firms” from 2009 to 2015.

Weak growth in global demand has left the territory’s banks gasping for air.

This development to start in 2017.

Office letting market could be buoyed by then.

The new QuietComfort 35 make distractions such as background noise and wires a thing of the past.

Imagine living in the city with all the trappings of luxury in LA yours to enjoy.