Outspoken Yata boss who ‘never held meetings’ exits
Outgoing chief executive says local shoppers key to store’s success amid slump in tourist numbers
Daniel Chong Wai-chung has won more hearts in Hong Kong than the average chief executive.
The boss of Yata department store has become a household name for his maverick management style and cheeky quotes, and he added to that image on Thursday as he bid farewell to the retail scene after more than eight years in charge at Yata.
The outspoken personality revealed his “retirement” plans and chipped in on recent topical issues in the city such as the “left luggage” saga surrounding Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s daughter.
Chong may have reason to be popular, judging from the success of Yata under his leadership, which has seen the number of stores surge from one to seven with two more in the pipeline.
Dubbed “the chief executive who never holds meetings”, Chong joked his biggest “contribution” to the firm was not doing anything and leaving the work in the capable hands of colleagues.