AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited (AWEM), the operator and manager of Asia's premier exhibition and events centre, today announced some latest movements in its management team.
Nicolas Borit, the current Chief Executive Officer of the operating company, will be promoted to become the Managing Director of one of the venue's shareholders, Dragages Hong Kong Limited, with effect from 1 August 2007. Mr Borit will also assume the role of Chairman of AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited and become a board member of Hong Kong IEC Limited, the joint-venture company that owns the venue.
The position of Chief Executive Officer of AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited will be filled by Allen Ha, the current Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr Ha, with his extensive experience in venue management and operations, is undoubtedly the best candidate for this top management position. Mr Borit, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Company and a board member of the owner company, will continue to be actively involved in the strategic and business developments of the venue.
Since its opening in December 2005, the company has achieved strong business results with the future looking very promising for this modern exhibition and events venue. As a result, plans are under development to add another 30,000 square metres of rentable space.
With its strategic location and outstanding facilities and services, AsiaWorld-Expo has secured and hosted a good number of spectacular international trade shows, conferences, and entertainment events in the last 18 months, some of which occupied the entire 70,000 square metres of available space. Over 90% of these events were staged in Hong Kong for the first time and are signed up as annual fixtures for the coming years.
Mr Borit and Mr Ha have both been involved in the development of AsiaWorld-Expo since the tendering of the project and the formation of AWEM in September 2003. Together with the rest of the AsiaWorld-Expo team, they have played an instrumental role in the venue's success. The latest changes in the Company's management team will strengthen business performance going forward. "The board has total confidence in Allen's ability to lead the team to new heights. Allen has been a key member of the organisation since the beginning and his dedication and contribution to the venue's development and business performance are fully recognised by business partners, customers, and our own team," said Mr Borit.
Mr Ha accepts his growing responsibilities with great enthusiasm. "The growth of AsiaWorld-Expo has been overwhelming. We have achieved excellent results in our first year of operation, and I am excited to take up the challenging role of leading the team to further build our business," said Mr Ha. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Nicolas for his leadership and total commitment in the creation and success of AsiaWorld-Expo."
In his future role as Managing Director of Dragages Hong Kong Limited, Mr Borit will oversee the management and operations of a portfolio of diverse business entities that are spread across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. The group is a well recognised leader in building and civil works construction, project management, mechanical and electrical engineering, facility management, and infrastructure investments.
Dragages started its business in Hong Kong in 1955 when it won its first contract in the territory – the reclamation and formation of the runway at Kai Tak Airport. Since then, Dragages Hong Kong has completed many major projects that marked the milestones of Hong Kong's development.
Dragages Hong Kong's parent company is Bouygues Construction, a French construction group operating in civil works and building. Over the years, its business has evolved from making bricks and mortar to providing solutions to clients in design, engineering, finance and operation in over 60 countries. Bouygues Construction in turn is part of the Bouygues group, one of the largest French conglomerates founded in 1952 with diverse businesses that are world and European leaders in their own right.