Allan Zeman, the Hong Kong entrepreneur who is more than a ‘mouse killer’
Credited for famously turning around Ocean Park and beating off the threat from the Disney park in the last decade, the entertainment tycoon has left in his wake a generation of businesspeople who owe their start to a man who values hard work and creativity
Behind his desk in an office filled with a haphazard array of art, photos and awards, there are two photos of Allan Zeman shaking hands and chatting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a testament to his outsized influence in the Hong Kong business circle. In the photos, Zeman didn’t change his trademark look – bangles on his right arm and open neck shirt with upturned collar – that sets him apart from other businessman in Asia, even when it was meeting the Chinese leader. It is always, for him, the business that matters.
Born in Germany and raised in Montreal, Allan Zeman likes recounting his early childhood work history. By the age of 10, he had his first job delivering newspapers. By 12, he was bussing tables in a restaurant, where he learned about hustling for tips. He also developed a love for eating out – able to afford a restaurant rather than taking a packed lunch like other kids.
In his story, there is the hint of a personal philosophy: teachers and books don’t necessarily have the answers – you need to work, learn practical lessons, and apply those lessons as you go.
By the time Zeman was 19, he had dropped out of college and famously amassed his first million dollars by selling women’s lingerie. “He wasn’t caught up in what university you went to; in his mind, having no experience was better than having a lot of the wrong experience,” said Bruce Rockowitz, one of Zeman’s long time friends and business partners.
“Billionaires will take themselves so seriously, but Allan doesn’t take himself too seriously; his work, yes,” said Richard Feldman, chairman of the Mimosa Group, which runs bars and restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s central bars and entertainment district.
By the 1970s, Zeman had already moved to Hong Kong to be closer to the source of his clothing, which was then sold to Canada. It was around 1980 that he met Rockowitz, then a young tennis player touring Asia. After the second meeting, Zeman hired him. Rockowitz was in his early 20s, Zeman his early 30s.
Rockowitz says taking a chance on young people with a big idea and a willingness to work has become one of Zeman’s hallmarks. He has remained connected to Zeman over the years, most recently as fellow board members on Wynn Macau casino.