Superdrug owner AS Watson appoints new CEO

AS Watson, the Hong Kong-based beauty conglomerate that owns Superdrug and Savers, has today announced the promotion of company veteran Malina Ngai to Group CEO, effective 1 May.

Ngai currently holds the position of Group Chief Operating Officer at AS Watson and Chief Executive Officer at AS Watson in Asia and Europe.

She joined CK Hutchison (formerly Hutchison Whampoa), the parent company of AS Watson, in 2000. She was transferred to AS Watson in 2001 and has taken on various leadership roles, becoming Group Chief Operating Officer in 2013 and CEO of AS Watson in Asia and Europe in 2019.

Before joining CK Hutchison, Ngai worked in sports marketing consultancy and the Hong Kong SAR Government's statutory body for sports development. She also boasts a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in sports administration.

Dominic Lai, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison and Group Managing Director of AS Watson, said: "After a very fulfilling 17 years of leading the AS Watson Group, I think it is the appropriate time to pass on the baton. Malina has been crucial in successfully driving AS Watson’s digital transformation, implementing the O+O (Offline plus Online) business model, and fostering positive cultural change in the past decade.

"She demonstrated strong adaptability, strategic agility, and the ability to drive tremendous momentum across the entire organisation. Her significant achievements have continued to propel our organisation forward. Malina is perfectly prepared for this role."

As the Group CEO of AS Watson, Ngai will be in charge of defining the company's vision, leading the team to formulate strategies to meet its strategic objectives and continuing the growth journey of our global portfolio.