Esprit's chief executive, Michael Ying, has big plans for the business

In the present environment of lay-offs and pay cuts, it is a rare thing to hear of a retail group with grand expansion plans. But such is the case of Esprit and its unflappable chief executive Michael Ying.

The youthful 50-year-old tells Karen Cooper he is also tossing around the idea of something bigger - buying back the Esprit business where it all began, in the US.

With Esprit shares outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 11.63 per cent this year, the company is well-placed to realise its ambitions and Mr Ying may even have time to work on his golf handicap.