International man of mergers

Chow Chung-kong, the chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, is hard-pressed to remember the first shares he purchased as a teenage investor.

But the 62-year-old chairman has keener memories of his 39-year career, which has included a spectacular portfolio in terms of companies as well as their locations. Dubbed by analysts as one of Hong Kong's most successful executives on the world stage, Chow spent 25 years working in the United States, Britain, Japan and Australia before returning to Hong Kong to become chief executive of MTR Corp between 2003 and 2011.

Chow says all his past experiences have helped him perform in his current role as chairman of HKEx, a position he has held since April last year.

"Past experience helps to shape an individual's vision. It is not just what you have gone through, but what you see from what you have gone through," said the chairman, who was all smiles during an interview at the HKEx offices in Central.

This is the first time he has been chairman of a listed company. Previously, he held chief executive positions and acted as non-executive chairman of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), a private arm of the British lender.

"Being a chairman, I have to lead the board to practise good governance and set strategy, and make sure I give sufficient room for chief executive Charles Li Xiaojia to manage the business," he said.