44 Facts About Adrian Cheng

Adrian Cheng Chi-kong is a Hong Kong entrepreneur and business executive son of property developer Henry Cheng and grandson of Cheng Yu-tung.

Adrian Cheng is the former CEO and executive vice-chairman of the family company, New World Development, the heir and executive director of jewelry company Chow Tai Fook,.

Adrian Cheng is the founder of K11, which has a portfolio of commercial, cultural and residential projects.

Adrian Cheng has two younger siblings, Sonia Cheng and Brian Cheng.

Adrian Cheng attended Taft School in Connecticut and graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree.

Adrian Cheng received an honorary Doctorate from the Savannah College of Art and Design and Honorary Fellowships from Lingnan University, The University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Adrian Cheng is serving as Member of Dean's Council in Harvard Kennedy School.

Early in his career, Adrian Cheng was a banker at Goldman Sachs and UBS.

In 2002, Adrian Cheng left UBS AG to join his family's business Chow Tai Fook Holdings.

In March 2007, Adrian Cheng became executive director and a board member at New World Development.

Adrian Cheng later became executive vice-chairman of NWD in 2015.

Adrian Cheng founded the K11 Art Foundation in 2010, which focuses on promoting and supporting Chinese artists and their works.

Adrian Cheng initiated collaborations between internationally recognised museums and art institutions such as Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, showcasing Chinese artists.

In 2012, Adrian Cheng featured in Fortune magazine's 40 Under 40 list.

In 2017, Adrian Cheng led the Victoria Dockside redevelopment of land held by New World since the 1970s, at a cost of $2.6 billion.

Adrian Cheng launched C Ventures, an investment fund investing in fashion, media and lifestyle start-ups.

In 2018, Adrian Cheng founded the K11 Craft and Guild Foundation, a non-profit organisation to identify fast-disappearing crafts and offer public initiatives.

In September 2019, Adrian Cheng presided over the announcement that New World would donate 3 million square feet of agricultural land to the government for public housing and related facilities, NGOs and to charities to develop social or transitional housing.

In 2019, Adrian Cheng was rewarded by the French government with Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

On 13 February 2020, Adrian Cheng was named the executive chair of the New World subsidiary New World China Land, while keeping his role as executive vice-chairman of New World Development.

In October 2020, Adrian Cheng oversaw NWD's acquisition of the State Theatre Building in Hong Kong for redevelopment.

Towards the end of the same year, Adrian Cheng first mentioned his and New World Developments vision for improving environmental, social, and corporate governance in Hong Kong.

Adrian Cheng would serve as its Vice Chairman and Chief Executive, with the first school of many expected to open in late 2023.

In November 2021, Adrian Cheng announced that he would build virtual land in The Sandbox's metaverse.

Adrian Cheng announced in 2021 that he was to partner with Hong Kong-based biotech startup, Prenetics.

Adrian Cheng later acquired the startup, with the aim of making healthcare more accessible in Hong Kong.

In June 2022, Adrian Cheng spoke about the expansion of subsidiary Humansa's health and wellness facilities in the Greater Bay Area.

In July 2022, Adrian Cheng was part of the Hong Kong honours list, when he received the Silver Bauhinia Star.

In October 2022, Adrian Cheng was a recipient of the Ordre national du Merite from the French government.

In February 2023, it was announced that Adrian Cheng had been appointed as non-executive director and a co-chairman of Meta Media Holdings.

In June 2023, Adrian Cheng was one of the backers of NaaS Technology during its SPO.

In July 2024, Adrian Cheng received the "Best CEO" award in Institutional Investor's Annual Rankings for the fourth consecutive year.

In June 2021, Adrian Cheng attended a naming ceremony at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, after the University announced its Robotics Institute would be named after his father.

In September 2021, Adrian Cheng announced the establishment of a new non-profit organisation, New World Build for Good.

In 2022, Adrian Cheng led an initiative to help underprivileged Hongkongers.

Adrian Cheng is on the boards of companies such as New World Development and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, among others.

On 13 January 2023, Adrian Cheng was appointed as a new member of the Board of Directors of the Financial Services Development Council.

Adrian Cheng holds a number of art-focused board positions including, WKCDA Board Member of M+ from October 2016 to October 2018, a member of M+ Founding Benefactors, the major donors of M+, Visiting Committee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Board Member of Asia Art Archive, Trustee of Royal Academy of Arts, Board Member of The Friends of Guimet Museum, and Member of International Circle of Centre Pompidou.

In November 2023, The Financial Services Development Council announced the establishment of the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, with Adrian Cheng appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors with effect from 14 November 2023.

New World Development had massed borrowings that made it the most debt-laden major developer in Hong Kong when Adrian Cheng was the CEO.

Critics argued that Adrian Cheng's focus on creating Instagram-worthy spaces and courting celebrity partnerships has come at the expense of sound financial management and a realistic assessment of market conditions.

Adrian Cheng is married to Jennifer Yu and they have three children.

Adrian Cheng is recognized as a collector of contemporary art.

Adrian Cheng has three younger siblings: Sonia, Brian, and Christopher Adrian Cheng.