HK AmCham names Eden Woon new president

The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham HK) has appointed Eden Woon (pictured) as president, effective from 1 September 2022. Woon will replace the outgoing president Tara Joseph who resigned in November 2021 due to her failure to persuade the Hong Kong government to ease COVID-19 restrictions and the need to undergo quarantine herself.

AmCham HK said Woon boasts experience in both Hong Kong and China. From 2010 to 2017, he was vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Between 2006 and 2010, Woon was based in Shanghai, where he was managing director of Li & Fung Group's China corporate office and managing director of Toys “R” Us China. He was also vice president of Starbucks Coffee Company in the country too. From 1997 to 2006, Woon served as CEO of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

“I look forward very much to returning to Hong Kong to help lead AmCham HK at a very challenging time for the organisation and for Hong Kong. I hope that, by working with the board of governors, my experiences can contribute to propel AmCham HK upward and to benefit its members in particular and the business community in this international city," said Woon.

Joseph Armas, AmCham chairman added, "I am extremely excited to welcome Woon back to Hong Kong to lead AmCham HK. His combination of leadership, international business, and local experience was recognised by the board as a strength that will have a positive impact on the chamber and on the city.”

Tara Joseph, incumbent president of AmCham HK, said in November 2021 that she was leaving her position but will remain at the helm for six months, giving some time for AmCham to find a new president. She said Hong Kong had entered "a new phase so quickly and it should appeal to people who don’t mind its new normal and see opportunities," adding that American companies still had a lot to navigate in the coming few years.

To facilitate an efficient transition period for the incoming and outgoing presidents, the board of governors of AmCham Hong Kong has also appointed past chairman Steven DeKrey as special advisor to the chairman. DeKrey will oversee staff operations and advise the board during the transition period.

AmCham HK has served as a forum for the exchange and development of ideas among members of the business community. Earlier this year, it published a report, examining a wide array of issues among its members. Around 53% of respondents said the restrictions related to the pandemic had spurred them to leave Hong Kong. Only 10% of them said they were "less unlikely" and "much less likely" to leave the city.

Hong Kong’s international travel restrictions to contain COVID-19 weighed heavily on both company and personal sentiment. With six out of 10 businesses based in Hong Kong as part of the global or regional headquarters, hefty quarantine rules and travel restrictions continued are said to be creating “significant disruptions” in offices outside Hong Kong. Over 30% of respondents had to delay new investments in Hong Kong, and 30% struggled to fill senior executive roles.

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