Macao News

Alidad Tash

Macao News — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:44:29 +0800

Numbers savant. Film fanatic. Devoted diarist. Chinese-Iranian-American Alidad Tash, who runs 2NT8 gaming consultancy, is the definition of an open book – and his story’s nothing if not a page-turner. While still little more than a child, Tash left his native Iran to continue his schooling in the United States. But, characteristically, it was not long before he had mastered a new culture and language and was striding confidently towards a future as a highly successful businessman. Born in 1965, and fluent in English and Persian, Tash is the managing director of 2NT8, a gaming consultancy in Macao with clients around the world. A fount of ideas and philosophies, Tash is almost a walking self-help tome, perpetually ready to broadcast his views on life and relay the formative journey that has taken him around the globe from Iran to the US, then on to Asia. Tash’s odyssey had its genesis at the end of the 1970s, when the beleaguered Shah of his native Iran fled the country, leaving a power vacuum that was filled by the Muslim fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomeini. As members of the wealthy elite, his family felt the strictures of the new regime strongly, especially as women were denied basic freedoms and relegated to the status of second-class citizens. When offered the chance to continue his education in the United States, 13-year-old Tash took up a place at a boarding school in California. His father, an agricultural engineer and entrepreneur, planned to reunite the family within a year, but the situation in Iran unravelled. Just a few months after Tash relocated to the US in 1979, militarised Iranian college students took 52 American citizens and diplomats hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran. A year later in September 1980, war broke out between Iran and Iraq, and Tash didn’t know when he would see his family again. Back then, there was no Skype, FaceTime or Zoom – even a simple phone call had to be quick due to the expense, so they relied on letters and spoke briefly every couple of weeks. [caption id="attachment_47737" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Tash's first day at the Athenian School, California in 1979 - Photo courtesy of Alidad Tash[/caption] “It was 11 years before we all got back together - my dad, my mother, who ran a girls’ primary school, and my kid sister. But growing up more or less by myself in my teenage years definitely shaped my personality and made me more self-reliant, and as a consequence, I’m not really a typical person,” says Tash. “I’m lucky to be very good at maths and did well at school, and living in a dorm [with American students] I refined my English pretty quickly, too. But that’s not to say I didn’t party and do some naughty stuff like faking an ID so I could get into clubs. I’ve managed to make all my stupid mistakes all on my own, but the experience has helped me grow.” Tash’s affinity for numbers and letters impacts almost every aspect of his life (he even devised his company, 2NT8, based on a feng shui-inspired combination adding up to 28). He has also written in his journal every day since 1 January 1990 – a practice he maintains is highly therapeutic – which is backed up by an Excel spreadsheet tracking everywhere he has lived and for how long. In parallel, he has also recorded every film he has watched in a cinema, logging and rating thousands of flicks by language, location and genre. “Do I like movies?” he asks rhetorically while grinning with delight. “No. I love movies.” For the record, The Best of Youth, a six-hour Italian biopic about the life and times of two brothers directed by Marco Tullio Giordana, remains his all-time favourite. Tash, an avid reader, employs the same modus operandi to record the books he devours, noting whether it’s Kindle or hardback, the number of pages, how long it takes him to read and his overall impressions. At various times while in the US he had toyed with the idea of returning permanently to Iran, yet visiting there he realised the cultural gulf had become too wide for him to bridge. After studying in California for much of his 20s, Tash came to a crossroads when he turned 30 in 1995. “I said what the hell am I doing with my life? I got a degree in engineering and a master’s in robotic engineering, but I don't like this [work],” he recalls. “So I said, what do I like to do? Numbers. I love numbers.” Possibly due to the instability of his childhood, Tash settled on the solid foundation of numbers as his speciality. “Two plus two is four, no matter what,” he says. “Unlike other subjects where the answer is very long, my answer could be in a little box; the answer is 73.9 kilogrammes, yes or no? It's so easy and it's neat.” Tash embarked on a master’s degree in statistics at the University of Southern California. After graduating in 1998 at the age of 33, Tash took a job as a credit card officer with Chase Card Service (formerly First USA) in Delaware and then moved to Las Vegas for a similar role. Less than a year into his job, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas recruited him as the director of strategic marketing – and that’s how he entered the casino industry. In 2006, he moved permanently to a sister property, The Venetian Macao, having earlier worked at the Sands Macao (the property performed so well it paid for itself in eight months). However, the hop across the Pacific at first proved something of a culture shock for Tash, who had acclimated to the deserts of Nevada. “I was coming from the driest place in the US, and I thought ‘Oh my god, I’ve never been so wet in my life. Who the hell can live in this place? But I’m stubborn and like a challenge,” he recalls. “And I was really lucky – the government was just opening up the casino franchises so I got in the lift just as it was going up, so to speak, and I soon got the measure of Macao” says Tash. He hit his stride at The Venetian, where, among other spectacular successes he popularised no-commission baccarat, which was popular with players, dealers and especially casino management as it usually makes around 35 per cent more money than traditional baccarat. Tash then moved to Melco Resorts as senior vice president for gaming operations and strategy in 2010. He also found time that year to teach casino marketing to gaming management students at the University of Macau. At Melco, Tash continued to make waves. He was responsible for four properties and more than 5,000 staff. He and his team also increased the group’s mass hold percentage from 21 per cent to 36 per cent between 2012 and 2017, and often led Macao in mass wins per table per day. After seven years with Melco, he left to set up 2NT8, which tackles everything game-related from data visualisation to casino marketing and management. The company’s clients span the globe, including entrepreneurs keen to open integrated resorts in Asia, and investment firms in the US and Hong Kong who specialise in gaming. Always dabbling in new things, Tash was no stranger to entrepreneurial life. Back in the 1990s, he formed a company together with a friend to sell an automatic needle guard, which they invented, built and patented. It proved to be a highly sought-after product in medical settings and remains a lucrative income source. It would be wrong to assume Tash’s horizons end with 2NT8. Though he has pulled back from full-time work, he continues to be one of the most widely quoted experts when it comes to commenting on Macao’s gaming industry. In the past few years, he has also dedicated more time to personal projects and healthy habits. For instance, he meditates regularly and re-reads letters that he sent to himself at important junctures. “What have I learned?” he asks rhetorically. “When you get older, you become wiser. The other one is, you [have] to give to get. Have the bravery to do something instead of being a meek person waiting for things to happen to you, right?” Perhaps most importantly, Tash found love in Macao, marrying Sally, who hails from Hong Kong, starting a family and raising his son, Kayvon, and daughter, Layla. Unsurprisingly, he tracks the movies they’ve watched, too. Looking back over what for many would be a tempestuous life, Tash has one last very optimistic thought to share: “Positivity has always been my mainstay – you just have to appreciate what you have.”

Wilfred Wong

Mariana César de Sá — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:13:41 +0800

Wilfred Wong worked in the Hong Kong government for almost 17 years before moving into the private sector, where he spent over 20 years at some of the biggest property companies. He joined Sands China Ltd. as its President in November 2015. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Standing in his spacious office overlooking a garden at the Venetian, Wong is dressed in an immaculate suit. He understands the importance of appearance, stating that as an ambassador of your company, you should present a professional image. So much so, that even outside of the office, “you’ll always find me wearing a round neck t-shirt and a jacket,” he says with a smile. It is also evident that Wong’s office has been influenced by his culture, with feng shui elements placed in strategic locations. Born in Hong Kong on 8 October 1952, Wong grew up with his four younger brothers in the “fashionable area” of Hong Kong – Causeway Bay. His parents came to the city from the Fujian Province in the 1950s. His father was a banker, moving into the business sector after a few years, while his mother took care of the boys. Although it was common for the eldest child to have more responsibilities around the house, the opposite was the case for Wong. “I was the only sibling exempt from household chores,” he says. “This was because I was doing very well at school and my parents wanted me to focus on my studies.” Wong spent his secondary years at New Method College, Hong Kong, choosing art subjects over science. “I belonged to the arts stream, and that’s where all the girls would go. So for many years in my class of forty-something students – there were only 4 boys compared to 40 girls.” He is still well-known as a lover of the arts, but followed in his father’s footsteps into the world of business. After several summer jobs working in banks, Wong began an economics degree at the University of Hong Kong. During his first two years at university, Wong somehow managed to find the time to also teach 24 sessions a month of economics classes to Form four students (10th grade) at the New Method College. “I taught one subject eight times a day, so any joke I prepared, I said it eight times, getting better and better at it,” he laughs. He also admits that students enjoyed his classes because he was only four years older than them, and would turn up sporting long hair and bell-bottom jeans. Straight after his graduation in 1975, Wong joined the civil service and in 1976-1977 was chosen as part of a select group of government administrative officers to undertake a yearlong scholarship at the University of Oxford, UK. This opportunity arose as the British were looking to cultivate and nurture successors ahead of the transfer of the British administration to the Chinese in 1997. The government wanted Wong and his colleagues to take the opportunity to meet people and travel – something he did with enthusiasm, travelling everywhere from the USA and Canada to India and Africa. “It was a real eye opener, even simply learning the differences in mannerisms around the world,” he notes. After returning from Oxford, Wong spent the next nine years working in the government, reaching the rank of Principle Assistant Secretary of Economics. In 1986, Sir David Ford, then Secretary for Civil Service of Hong Kong, gave Wong the opportunity to undertake a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Harvard, USA. When the Chinese government began drafting Hong Kong’s basic law from 1985-1990, Wong was invited to be a special member of the basic law consultative committee by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. This was because he was widely known for understanding the public opinion of Hong Kong’s citizens. He was also deputy to the national people’s congress of the People’s Republic of China from 1997 to 2012. In 1992, Wong took a leap of faith, and in what he deems as his most spontaneous career move, joined the private sector. He says this was inspired by Deng Xiaoping’s southern tour and his vision of opening up China. His migration to the business world was accelerated when Lui Che-woo from K. Wah group asked him to become the company’s deputy and expand its business in Shanghai in 1992. When Wong asked why he was chosen to go after just one month with the company, Lui replied: “you’re the only one in the company that can speak Mandarin.” And so, with a suitcase in hand, Wong travelled to Shanghai. Within nine months he’d secured two of the area’s most valuable plots of land including the K. Wah Center in Huaihai Road. “You meet people, you follow up and you follow up,” he says when describing the secret of his success. Wong went on to work as Managing Director of Henderson China, and then joined Shui On group. Here he was part of the team that started Xintiandi, rolling out the concept of the entertainment district to many Chinese cities. Next he moved to the Hsin Chong Construction group, where he held the title of Chairman and CEO from 2007 until 2015. During this time, Wong still managed to keep actively involved is his community, and today he is the Chairman of the Hong Kong Baptist University Foundation, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council. He is also the Chairman of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries & Conditions of Service of Hong Kong, Chairman Emeritus of Pacific Basin Economic Council, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute for Public Administration. Wong was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star Medal and Gold Bauhinia Star Medals by the Hong Kong SAR government in 2007 and 2015 respectively, in recognition of his public service. While Wong was based Shanghai, he would always try to spend his weekends in Hong Kong to be with his wife and two sons. He chose not to relocate his family to Shanghai so as not to disrupt their academic and personal lives, but one of his biggest fears he admits is that his wife might be unhappy because he didn’t and doesn’t spend enough time with her. Having now been married for 35 years, he says that she’s always been the heart of the family, taking care of their sons and arranging online group chats to keep everyone in touch. Reflecting on this, Wong admits that he is eternally grateful for her love and support, because she understands that he’s doing what he loves in life. Interestingly, Wong’s sons Jonathan and Calvin share many of the same passions as their father. Jonathan has gone into the entertainment industry, something that was an obvious fit for him from a young age, when he’d often be found setting up stages and singing. Calvin, on the other hand, works in JP Morgan. He says his ambition is to become a CEO like his dad. Wong took up his current role as President of gaming concessionaire Sands China Ltd. in November 2015. He says it’s a big responsibility, but one that keeps him excited. His workload has always been heavy, and the stress high, but he enjoys rising to the challenge and feels grateful to have achieved all he has in life so far. “Inner peace is when you know how much you have contributed to the world,” he highlights. “When you do your public duties, you feel the influence you have on people – where one policy is going to impact tens of thousands of people,” he concludes.

Jay Chun

Macao News — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 20:36:16 +0800

Jay Chun is Chairman of Paradise Entertainment Limited. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English and has lived all over the world, including Canada, China, the United States, Hong Kong and Macao. Born 15 December 1954, in Shanghai, Chun spent the first two decades of his life in his hometown before going abroad. “I studied in Shanghai, and after graduating, I went to Japan and Canada to study as well.” He recalls having a happy and well-educated childhood, which he attributes to the education system reform carried out by the government in 1976. “My generation was the first batch of students to benefit from this new system. If you wanted to go to high school and further, you had to pass a test, so this greatly increased the quality of our education.” Chun holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Shanghai University of Science and Technology (1982–1986) and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Arizona University, in the U.S., completed in 1993. In between, he lived and worked in Canada, deepening his understanding of business and entrepreneurship. While completing his MBA, Chun worked in international trade. “I was a car importer. We bought cars from Eastern Europe and exported them to China.” According to Chun, Chinese people prefer European cars not just because of their superior quality but also because there is no need for an import license. “Before 2000, when you imported cars to China, you needed a formal import license, but not with communist countries.” Chun moved to Macao and joined Paradise Entertainment Limited in 1998 because he “saw the opportunity on the shortage of dealers.” At first, he split his time between Macao and Hong Kong but settled here full-time in 2008. Paradise Entertainment Limited creates the software which operates several slot machines in some Macao casinos. Its products are also employed by the gambling world at large, including casinos in Las Vegas, Portugal, Singapore and Australia. The company actually started out manufacturing medicine in mainland China although it was always listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Nowadays, the manufacturing process is delegated to companies in China, leaving the Macao branch to head software design. (For many years, manufacturing gambling machines was prohibited in mainland China, so operations were based in Taiwan.) “When I joined Paradise Entertainment, it was also involved in the business of telemedicine, which nowadays we call “distant medicine”. It works remotely: doctors can diagnose a patient via the Internet,” Chun explains. A similar technology is used to create casino software. The company now has several branches, including Macao, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Singapore, Taiwan and Sydney. Hardware development is based in Taiwan, with the other locations operating as suppliers. “[Paradise Entertainment] is still very conservative, and Macao has to be more open to continue to provide the same services and [achieve the same] revenues,” the chairman underlines, “in order to handle more customers.” Although he has little free time, Chun enjoys computer engineering-related activities. "I do a lot of remote-control submarines, boats, small robots, drones…Anything that has to do with technology, really." He also enjoys golf, but “I don’t have much time, and golf is a time-consuming sport.” The entrepreneur is also involved in charity work and has founded two organisations: the Chamber Listing Company Association based in Hong Kong, which objectives’ are to strengthen the commercial linkage among listed companies in Hong Kong, to foster co-operation among listed companies from Hong Kong, China and other countries, to protect the interests of investors, to uphold Hong Kong's position as an international trade, commercial and financial centre, among others. He also founded the Macao Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, created five years ago to “promote the entertainment equipment industry and those who manufacture the equipment through its programs and development efforts,” according to their website. In 2014, Chun was named one of Forbes’s “50 Best Executive Directors in China.” He was also awarded the Excellence in Achievement of World Chinese Youth Entrepreneurs in 2011, for his leadership and innovative work in the field of business management.

Angela Leong On Kei

Macao News — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:50:01 +0800

Angela Leong On Kei has been Managing Director of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), since December 2010 and is a member of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)’s Legislative Council. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

Born in Guangzhou in 1961, Leong moved to Macao in 1982. In the early 80s, she found her first job as a dance instructor, working four part-time positions teaching ballroom dance and aerobics. Her passion for dance inspired her to establish the Macau Dance Sport Federation (MDSF), organising international competitions and creating a platform for dancers to exchange talents. Under Leong's leadership, several regional and international dance competitions have been held such as the 2005 East Asian Games and the 2007 Asian Indoor Games. With immense support from the Sport Bureau of Macao SAR Government, MDSF dancers achieved distinction in the 2010 Asian Games (in Guangzhou).

Leong is a member of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Legislative Assemblies of the Macao SAR from 2005 to 2017 and was a voting member of the 2nd and 3rd Macau Chief Executive Elections. She is also a member of the 12th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, a standing committee member of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a standing committee member of the Zhuhai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

In addition to being Managing Director of SJM, she is the Vice Chairman of the Macau Jockey Club since March 2005, Director of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, S.A. since June 2005, and the Chairman of L’Arc Macau since 2010. She is also the Director of SJM Holdings Limited, Director of the Macau Regency Group, Duty Chairman and Managing Director of Companhia de Corridas de Galgos Macau (Yat Yuen), S. A., and Chairman of the management board of Macau SLOT Company Limited.

Leong has been awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star, which was conferred to her by the Hong Kong SAR in 2015, as well as the Medalha de Merilo Industrial e Commercial, conferred by the Macao SAR in 2009. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, she is also involved in local and international charity organisations in Macau, Hong Kong and beyond.

Managing one of Asia’s largest casino companies, Leong hopes to revive SJM with its first Cotai resort. She is confident that this project will bring in more diverse non-gaming elements to Macao.

Paulo Martins Chan

Macao News — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:23:45 +0800

Assistant Public Prosecutor General

Paulo Martins Chan was Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) between December 2015 and June 2020 when his successor Adriano Marques Ho was sworn in. While the gaming inspection chief, his top priority was reviewing the gaming sector. He is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Portuguese. Born in 1963 in Macao, Chan studied at the former Liceu Nacional Infante D. Henrique School. He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Macau as well as a Master of Law from Macau University of Science and Technology. From 1981 to 1996, Chan was one of TDM radio’s most popular disc-jockeys, anchoring for the Chinese station Ou Mun Tin Toi as a part timer. Chan has also been a master of ceremonies for dozens of local programs and shows. In 1998, Chan started working at the Public Prosecutions Office as a prosecutor, and from 2009 to 2015, he was promoted to Assistant Prosecutor General for the same office. According to Chan, there are two pressing long-term priorities when it comes to gaming legislation: measures preventing money laundering that could potentially finance terrorism, and the regulation of over 140 junkets operating in Macao's casinos, which requires that promoters retain the financial capacity and good repute necessary to carry out business.