Hong Kong Ballet is pleased to announce that Mr. John J. Ying has succeeded Mrs. Cissy Pao Watari, BBS as Chairman of Board from 22 March 2007.
Mr. John J. Ying has extensive experience in merchant banking, with business established mainly in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United States. He is currently the Managing Director of Peak Capital and was the former Managing Director - Asia of The Carlyle Group and one of the founding partners of Carlyle Asia. Prior to joining Carlyle, he was a Director and head of Thailand Investment Banking for Merrill Lynch & Co..
Mr. Ying is also an active member of the community. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong International School, a member of the Graduate Executive Board of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Friends' Committee of the Asian Cultural Council.
Mr. Ying served as the Board member of the Company and the Co-chairman of the Hong Kong Ballet Annual Gala Organising Committee since 2003.
Mr Ying said, "I am honoured to become Chairman of one of the flagship institutions of Hong Kong. The Company is at an extremely interesting point of its development - the cusp of being a leading cultural icon that fully reflects the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Hong Kong. I am particularly looking forward to work with the Artistic Director, Mr. John Meehan, who brings to us a diverse viewpoint and a wealth of experience from the American Ballet Theatre in New York. The Company is visually attractive, technically strong and artistically cohesive, signs of an institution that is moving rapidly towards its goal of becoming one of the leading classical ballet companies in the world.
On behalf of the entire board, I also would like to express both my gratitude and respect for Mrs. Cissy Pao Watari who was my predecessor as Chairman. Under her leadership during the past 10 years, the Hong Kong Ballet has grown tremendously, and I hope that I shall be able to continue as successfully."
Mrs. Cissy Pao Watari, BBS, now Board Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Centre, will remain in the Board of the Hong Kong Ballet as Emeritus Chairman and will continue to assist in guiding the future development of the Company.
Mrs. Watari said, "It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to witness the Hong Kong Ballet's rapid growth in the last decade. The Board is very proud for the Company, which has gained its international reputation and impressed audiences around the world with its distinctive identity, excellent dancers and superb productions.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Board, who always render their unfailing support to the Company over the years. I feel sad to leave the Company and dancers, who are in full spirit and with strong commitment to their career all the time, whilst I am confident that with John's vision, intellect and leadership, Hong Kong Ballet will continue to flourish and eventually become one of the premier classical ballet companies in the world."
For enquiries, please contact Miss Mei-yee Wong, Programme and Marketing Manager
Direct line: (852) 2105 9712Fax: (852) 2572 8035E-mail: meiyee_wong@hkballet.com
Note to Editors:
John J. Ying
Mr. Ying is Managing Director of Peak Capital, a boutique private equity firm founded in 1999 to enable high touch, value investing in China by experienced partners and focuses on a full range of transactions for the Mid-Market in China, including growth capital, expansion financings, leveraged acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, workouts, turnarounds, recapitalizations and restructurings. The firm is managed by two partners, one each in Hong Kong and Beijing, and who collectively have 30 years of private equity and financing experience in China.
Previously Mr. Ying was Managing Director - Asia of The Carlyle Group and one of the founding partners of Carlyle Asia. Prior to joining Carlyle, he was a Director and head of Thailand Investment Banking for Merrill Lynch & Co, at which he spent eleven years in New York and Hong Kong.
He currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of two private companies as well as of Tai Ping Carpets International, a Hong Kong Stock Exchange firm.
Mr. Ying also serves as Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong International School and a member of the Graduate Executive Board of The Wharton School and the Friends' Committee of the Asian Cultural Council.
He was graduated with distinction from the Phillips Exeter Academy, with honors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and from the University of Pennsylvania with both a Masters of Business Administration from the Wharton School and a Masters of Arts in International Studies.
Mr. Ying is married to Lisa Gallo Ying and has two children.
