The Hong Kong Management Association held its 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 10 July 2014 at its Headquarters. Dr Dennis Sun BBS JP, Chairman of the Association reported that the year 2013 was an exciting year and an important milestone for the HKMA, as significant steps were taken in shaping up its brand. For the first time since its establishment in 1960, the Association carried out a re-branding project to bring greater focus to its brand identity, and to signify its commitment to advancing management excellence in Hong Kong and the region.

Besides, the inaugural Hong Kong Management Capability Index was introduced to establish a baseline of management capability. On training and education side, in 2013, the Association co-organized a Strategic Leadership Programme with Cornell University. Agreements with several universities in the UK, including Middlesex University, Glyndŵr University and the University of the West of England were reached in launching new degree programmes in multiple disciplines from 2014 onwards.

During the meeting, Dr Sun announced that he would step down from the Chairmanship. Dr Sun expressed his sincere thanks to members of the Council, the Executive Committee and various Committees for their generous assistance and wise counsel. "It is my great honour to be elected Chairman of our Association two years ago. I have been very fortunate to enjoy your support since then." said Dr Sun.

At the Annual General Meeting, ten re-elected or newly-elected Council Members were as follows:

• Mr Giovanni Angelini, Chairman, Angelini Hospitality;
• Mr S K Cheong, General Manager, Television Broadcasts Limited;
• Mr Hans Helmuth Hennig, Group Managing Director, Jebsen & Co Limited;
• Mr Michael Lee JP, Director, Oxer Limited;
• Dr Albert Ma JP, Chairman & Managing Director, Hong Kong L.P. Gas (Holdings) Limited;
• Mr Y K Pang SBS JP, Chief Executive, Hongkong Land Holdings Limited;
• Mr John Slosar, Chairman, John Swire and Sons (HK) Limited;
• Mr Jay Walder, Chief Executive Officer, MTR Corporation Limited;
• Mr Patrick Wu, President & Managing Director, American Appraisal China Limited; and
• Dr Paul Young JP, Managing Director, Yuen Hing Hong & Co Ltd.

At the Council Meeting held immediately after the Annual General Meeting, Mr Alfred Chan BBS, Managing Director of The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited was elected Chairman. Mr James Thompson GBS, Chairman, Crown Worldwide Holdings Limited and Mr Michael T H Lee JP, Director, Oxer Limited were re-elected and newly-elected as Deputy Chairman respectively. Dr Dennis Sun BBS JP was admitted as Honorary President of the Association.

Mr Alfred W K Chan has been Managing Director of The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) since May 1997. Mr Chan is also Chairman of Towngas China Company Limited, a listed public company specializing in city gas business in mainland China. Under Mr Chan`s leadership, Towngas has transformed from a localized single business company into a multi-discipline, regional conglomerate in Asia. Today, Towngas has a portfolio of over 150 utility, energy and telecommunication projects in Hong Kong and mainland China, and is the largest city gas group in the nation. In 2012, the Company extended its upstream energy business territory to cover Thailand.

Mr Chan first became involved in the work of the Association in 1994 as a member of the Membership Committee. Mr Chan has been a Council Member since 2000, an Executive Committee member since 2001 and Deputy Chairman since 2010. Since 2012, he has been leading the Corporate Development Sub-committee in formulating the strategic direction of the HKMA.

He has given the HKMA his full support in different capacities, including member of General Management Committee (1999); Chairman of Marketing Management Committee (2000-2002); Chairman of the Organizing Committee (2001-2004) and Judge (2001-present) of the HKMA Quality Award; Adjudicator of Award for Excellence in Training and Development (2001) and HKMA/TVB Awards for Marketing Excellence (1998), Chairman of Organizing Committee of the Annual Conference (1999) and member of the Theme Year Working Party (2000-2002).

Mr Chan was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in July 2005 for his active participation in and contribution to public service.