Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, a third-generation leader of one of Hong Kong’s largest conglomerates, will be stepping down as chief executive of New World Development and taking on a non-executive role in the company, sources have confirmed.
Born in 1979, Cheng will transition into the role of non-executive vice-chairman, relinquishing his position as CEO. Sources say that Eric Ma Siu-cheung, former Hong Kong Secretary for Development and current chief operating officer at New World, will likely be promoted to CEO as the company announces its full-year financial results on Thursday.
According to one source, Ma had recently instructed colleagues to review the financial situation of the company’s subsidiaries for possible restructuring.
New World is expected to report a loss of between HK$19 billion (US$2.44 billion) and HK$20 billion for the financial year ended June 30, which would be its biggest loss since Cheng’s grandfather founded the company over 50 years ago. …