Hong Kong’s Ocean Park names former UA Cinemas managing director as new chief executive
- Ivan Wong will succeed tourism commissioner Joe Wong, who was seconded from government to serve as interim chief in May
- Struggling theme park is planning HK$6.8 billion revamp which aims to turn it into financially self-sufficient retail and leisure destination
Before the tourism commissioner’s temporary stint, the previous two chief executives were Ocean Park veterans. Ysanne Chan Sein-yu and her predecessor Matthias Li Sing-chung were both former chief financial officers who had worked at the theme park for nearly three decades.
Ivan Wong is chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Marketing and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Britain. He most recently served as chief operating officer of Lark International Group, which owned UA Cinemas.
Ocean Park chairman Lau Ming-wai said he was excited to welcome Ivan Wong to the management team and would work with him on the park’s transformation.
“His market-driven mindset and remarkable business experience from product development to business re-engineering make him well suited for the role,” Lau said on Wednesday.
Hong Kong tourism commissioner to take over as interim head of Ocean Park
Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing noted Wong’s background in the local entertainment business meant he was an appropriate choice.
“Ocean Park faces a great challenge in the near future as it will have to overhaul its operation model and become financially self-sufficient,” he said. “So it is suitable that it has found a candidate who is savvy with business operations.”
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Business model revamp will help Hong Kong’s Ocean Park stay afloat, says chairman Lau Ming-wai
In March, lawmakers green lit a HK$6.8 billion rebirth plan, which aims to relaunch Ocean Park as a financially self-sufficient retail and leisure destination focused on education and conservation, with a variety of outsourced entertainment and other activities on offer.
Under the proposals, the park will operate an area with conservation and education facilities, cable cars and a new Water World attraction.
The rest of the resort will be run in partnership with external operators, who will pay rent or share revenue with the park.
A victim of the coronavirus pandemic, UA closed the last of its cinemas in Hong Kong in March after operating in the city for 36 years.
