HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawrence Ma and Kent Wong, longstanding pillars of the global jewellery industry, are the Recipients of JNA Awards 2020's highest accolade – the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Recognised for helping shape and transform not only Hong Kong's jewellery industry but that of the global jewellery community, Ma and Wong dedicated their lives to finding new ways to create a richer, more sustainable and forward-thinking jewellery sector. Their bold ambitions and vision went beyond simple profit-making; they endeavoured to affect positive change within their organisations and the communities they serve through leadership and action.
The JNA Awards' spotlight will shine on Ma, Chief Executive Officer of Lee Heng Diamond Group, and Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, during the much-anticipated virtual awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live at 8pm (Hong Kong time) on 27 October -- the first day of the first edition of the three-day B2B virtual event, Jewellery & Gem Digital World (J&G Digital World).
"Lawrence and Kent are both legendary figures who have thrived through the many ups and downs of the jewellery industry in the last four decades. They have undoubtedly achieved commercial success for their respective organisations, but what makes them truly stand out are their tremendous contributions to the growth and prosperity of Hong Kong's jewellery industry, all of which have had a massive impact and influence on jewellery hubs around the world. It is indeed a great honour and privilege to celebrate their lifetime achievements by conferring them the highest accolade of the JNA Awards," said Letitia Chow, Chairperson & Founder of JNA Awards at Informa Markets - Jewellery.
Lawrence Ma
Starting his career in the jewellery industry four decades ago, Ma founded MaBelle Jewelry in the early 1990s, a diamond jewellery brand that speaks to a broader market comprising largely of aspirational consumers. This initiative also marked a turning point in the long-term vibrancy of Hong Kong's diamond jewellery retailing industry.
A founding president and current chairman of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong (DFHK), Ma was instrumental in the promotion and implementation of ground-breaking initiatives that fortified Hong Kong's unique position as a global diamond and jewellery trading centre. He also led the charge in creating a culture of integrity and excellence in the city's jewellery market, which to this day, remains the operational guidepost for every jewellery retailer in Hong Kong.
Commenting on the award, Ma said, "I am overwhelmed and excited to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the JNA Awards this year. I have been very blessed and privileged to be surrounded by loving family members, brilliant mentors, capable and loyal colleagues and partners, as well as genuine and caring friends. I appreciate the great contributions and achievements of all previous Recipients of this honour and I am delighted to be one of them. I promise to keep on doing what I believe is vital in my life journey: To bring the best out of myself and of all the incredible people around me."
Kent Wong
Wong has devoted himself to the industry and company for over four decades, joined Chow Tai Fook in 1977 as an apprentice and promoted to Managing Director in 2011. As the key advocator, he drives the evolution into an exciting, innovative, diversified and trend-setting Group. Under his leadership, Chow Tai Fook being the first Hong Kong-based Jewellery group to open the first store in Mainland China in 1998 and further expanded its global presence, he successfully turned the business from a homegrown brand to a modern and progressive enterprise, now, with over 4,000 points of sale around the world.
Indeed, his bold leadership style and open-minded tone not only made the Group's transformation possible, also broke new and innovative grounds that benefited the industry and customer as a whole. In the 2000s, as an industry first, the Group is spearheading the digital revolution of the industry by enlisting patented Smart Tray with RFID, blockchain technology diamond grading report that serve as brilliant examples to win the customers' trust.
Wong is a courageous trailblazer who dedicated most of his life to the advancement of the jewellery industry. He serves as chairman of the Hong Kong Jewellers' & Goldsmiths' Association, chairman of the supervising committee of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Jewellers' & Goldsmiths' Employees' Association Ltd, a permanent honourable president of the Kowloon Gold Silver and Jewel Merchants' Staff Association and a board member of the World Diamond Council.
"I am very honoured and grateful to be the Recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you JNA Awards for this prestigious tribute. Having spent 43 years in an industry that I love, I am immensely proud and humbled to have not only witnessed the incredible developments within our industry but also to have worked alongside so many inspiring individuals in our community. Let us all continue to shine on and share the exquisite beauty and joy of jewellery to the world," Wong said.
The prestigious JNA Awards was launched by Informa Markets Jewellery in 2012. Serving as a benchmark of excellence, innovation and best business practices in the jewellery industry, the Awards celebrates the achievements of exceptional individuals and companies whose actions have a far-reaching and positive impact on the global jewellery trade and society, regardless of their scale of operations, areas they serve and fields of expertise.
JNA Awards 2020 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and DANAT, alongside Honoured Partners KGK Group and Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited.
For more information, visit http://www.JNAawards.com/ or contact:
JNA Awards Marketing
Informa Markets
+852 2516-2184
marketing@jnaawards.com
Notes for Editors:
1. About the Headline Partner
1.1 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.ctfjewellerygroup.com)
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group's vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world.
Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" is widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and is renowned for its product design, quality and value. A long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has contributed to the Group's success, along with that of its iconic retail brand, and has been embodied in its rich 90-year heritage. Underpinning this success are our long-held core values of "Sincerity • Eternity".
The Group's differentiation strategy continues to make inroads into diverse customer segments by catering to a bespoke experience for different lifestyles and personalities, as well as customers' different life stages. Offering a wide variety of products, services and channels, the Group's brand portfolio comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand, with curated retail experiences including ARTRIUM and JEWELRIA, and other individual brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE.
The Group's commitment to sustainable growth is anchored in its customer-centric focus and strategies, which are in place to promote long term innovation in business, in people and in culture. Another asset underpinning sustainable growth is a sophisticated and agile business model. This supports the Group by fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain to communities and industry partners across the world.
With an extensive retail network in Greater China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the United States, and a fast-growing e-commerce business, the Group is implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to succeed in today's omni-channel retail environment.
1.2 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)
Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange body in China; and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.
Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.
1.3 Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones -- DANAT (www.danat.bh)
The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT) was established in 2017, as an initiative of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain. DANAT was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom. DANAT evolved from the Pearl & Gem Testing Laboratory of Bahrain (the first laboratory of its kind in the region), which was established in 1990. It was formed to expand upon and enhance the excellent work of the laboratory, with the vision of becoming the world's preferred institute for natural pearl and gemstone third-party verification services and scientific research.
Currently, DANAT plays a vital role in protecting and enhancing the public's trust in pearls, gemstones and jewellery. With its offices located at the iconic Bahrain World Trade Centre, the facility aims to establish itself as the window into international markets, serving local and global clients, and bolstering the reputation of the Kingdom as a leading centre for pearl and gemstone expertise.
DANAT is an authority on industry standards, scientific knowledge and education, and is committed to the highest standards of professional and personal ethics. It is dedicated to supporting the pearl and gemstone industry and offers training programmes locally, regionally and internationally to a new generation of gemmologists, industry professionals and gemmology enthusiasts.
2. About the Honoured Partners
2.1 KGK Group (www.kgkgroup.com)
The KGK Group was founded in 1905 by Kesrimal Kothari and Ghisilal Kothari of Jaipur (India), to trade gemstones between India and Burma. With a global presence across 15 countries today, the privately held group has evolved into one of the most preferred brands in the gemstone and jewellery industry, with a vertically integrated operation. KGK is one of the few conglomerates covering the entire spectrum of mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery for over a century. KGK Group has a resilient team of 12,000 employees with operations and offices in Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Having achieved an impeccable reputation in the gemstone, diamond and jewellery trade, the group has recently diversified into real estate.
2.2 Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited (www.gdland.com.hk)
Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited (GD Land (Shenzhen)) is an indirect subsidiary of GDH Limited, the largest conglomerate from the Guangdong Province that operates outside of Mainland China. Headquartered in Hong Kong, GD Land (Shenzhen) is the listed company of GD Holdings for its HOPSCA business. It has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with stock code: 00124 since 1997.
GD Land (Shenzhen) currently has a number of upscale projects in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, including Guangzhou Riverside Garden, Guangzhou Ruyingju, Guangzhou Laurel House, Guangzhou Panyu Wanbo CBD Project, Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town Project, Foshan Nanhaiheshun Project and its flagship project, the Shenzhen GDH City.
The GDH City, a landmark HOPSCA comprised of grade-A office buildings, an experiential shopping mall of around 120,000 m2, a brewery heritage art street, a versatile space of 37-69 m2 and quality apartment buildings. Situated in Shuibei Buxin Business Circle in Shenzhen, the most sophisticated and largest centre for gold and jewellery trade in the country, the GDH City enjoys instant access to rich natural resources and an expansive transportation network. Indeed, GDH City allows one to enjoy fully everything it has to offer.
3. About Informa Markets (www.informamarkets.com)
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.
4. About Informa Markets Jewellery
Our resources, industry experience, influence and focus as a partner are enhanced by our global jewellery portfolio consisting of 13 events in 9 key cities, a powerful digital platform -- JewelleryNet, a dedicated Jewellery Media team and one of the industry's most prestigious awards programmes -- the JNA Awards.
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