GEMS | Our People | Management Team


		Simon Murray CBE, Chairman From 1993 to 1998, Simon Murray was the Executive Chairman of Asia Pacific for the Deutsche Bank Group with responsibility for the supervision of operations of 80 offices in 17 countries in the region. These included corporate and investment banking, project finance and various trading operations involved in foreign exchange, derivatives and securities. He has lived in Asia for over 40 years, 14 of which were spent with the Jardine Matheson Group, where he ultimately ran their engineering business and their trading operations. Thereafter, he founded Davenham Investments, a project advisory company, in a joint venture with NM Rothschild. He later sold the firm and became the Group Managing Director of Hutchison Whampoa in 1984; a role which he fulfilled for 9 years. He pioneered the Hutchison Group’s entry into the mobile telecommunication business and negotiated the rights to develop Orange, a leading PCN network in Europe. He also developed the Group’s energy business through the acquisition of Hong Kong Electric and Husky Oil Company of Canada. Hutchison also expanded its container operations during this period and now controls over 20% of the world’s container port operations. After leaving Hutchison Whampoa, he co-founded Distacom, a mobile telecommunication operation in India, Japan and Hong Kong. Simon has served as Chairman of numerous companies, including Hong Kong Electric, Hong Kong International Terminals, Husky Oil of Canada and Asia Satellite Telecommunications. He is currently a Director of a number of companies that include Hutchison Whampoa, Cheung Kong Holdings and Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA and Asia Chairman of Corporate Finance in Macquarie Bank. During his time in Asia, Simon not only witnessed but participated in what was generally considered to be an era of great development in the region’s business expansion. Both past and present activities have accorded him first-hand experience in a variety of business sectors in Asia as well as a deep understanding of the region.
		Geoff Spender, Managing Partner As Chief Financial Officer of the Deutsche Bank Group in Asia between 1994 and 1998, Geoff Spender was responsible for accounting, finance, risk control and fiscal affairs across 80 offices in 17 countries. During his tenure at the Deutsche Bank Group and earlier at Hutchison Whampoa, he developed a close working relationship with Simon Murray. He has spent over 27 years in international finance, 24 in Asia at senior executive level managing financial markets, dealing operations, and banking. He joined GEMS in 1998. He graduated in Law and Economics and holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Warwick.
		David Van Oppen, Senior Partner David Van Oppen has 12 years of experience in direct investment in Asia. Prior to joining GEMS in 1998, he was Vice President of Lazard Asia Investment Management, the Asian investment arm of Lazard Freres. At Lazard he managed the Hong Kong office and was involved with private equity investments totalling US$165 million. Mr. Van Oppen also worked with Smith Barney where his responsibilities included direct investment, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. In addition to his investment experience, he spent 3 years as Operations Manager for an international transport firm. He holds a Master of Arts degree in International Economics from the John Hopkins University where he was an Olmsted Fellow.
		Nick Powell, Senior Partner Nick Powell joined GEMS in 1998 and previously accumulated over 10 years of experience in Asian investment banking. After beginning his career with Jardine Matheson, he spent 3 years with the corporate finance division of Nomura International, involved primarily in their underwriting and IPO business. He subsequently moved to Robert Fleming as an Asian Specialist in Institutional Sales and Corporate Broking.
		Fergus Wilmer, Senior Partner Fergus Wilmer joined GEMS in 2003 and has spent the last 16 years in a variety of senior management positions in the Asia region. He was most recently the CEO of Sunday, a cellular telephone operator in Hong Kong. Prior to this, Mr. Wilmer started and led the operation as the CEO of the fastest growing cellular operation in India, Spice Telecom. From 1981 to 1996, Mr. Wilmer was with the Hutchison Whampoa group. His assignments included being the CEO of Hanny Magnetics, a Hong Kong listed company that manufactured and distributed electronic storage products. He was also the CEO of Orange France, based in Paris. He also spent 8 years with Husky Oil, a fully integrated oil and gas company based in Alberta, Canada.
		John Cheuck, Partner John Cheuck has over 15 years of operational and direct investment experience in Japan and Asia. Prior to joining GEMS in 2007, he was a Venture Partner with Apax Globis Partners & Co., a private equity investment firm created in Japan as an affiliate of Apax Partners. In that role, he was responsible for investments in the IT & Telecoms Sector in Japan and Korea. Prior to Apax-Globis, Mr. Cheuck held executive management positions including VP of Turbolinux KK (Tokyo), VP of Motorola Semiconductors (Hong Kong), SPS Division and CEO of Metrowerks Co., Ltd (Tokyo). He holds a MBA from the Japan American Institute of Management Science (JAIMS) and a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
		Patrick Lam, Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Lam joined GEMS in 2001. He was a Senior Manager with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu for 10 years with responsibilities for company secretarial services. He is a chartered secretary with more than 20 years of experience in corporate service, legal compliance and administration. He is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and a Masters degree in Laws from the University of London.
		Nelson Choi, Finance Manager Nelson Choi joined GEMS in 2000 and previously accumulated over 6 years of accounting and finance experience with a Hong Kong listed company. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University, Canada.
		Lau Chi Hin, Director Lau Chi Hin joined GEMS in 2001 from Jardine Fleming, where he was a Corporate Finance Executive. He was involved in the execution of mergers, acquisitions and equity financing transactions for over two years in London before moving to Hong Kong in 2000. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree in Economics from Cambridge University, and is a CFA charterholder.
		Godfrey Ngai, Director Godfrey Ngai joined GEMS in 2004 and has had over 10 years of banking and accounting experiences with focus on telecommunications, media and technology. Prior to joining GEMS, he had worked in the investment banking department for Daiwa Securities SMBC and BNP Paribas in Hong Kong and in the financial services group for Ernst & Young in Australia and Singapore. He holds a Bachelor of Business degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Technology, Sydney and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
		Kenyon Lee, Director Kenyon Lee joined GEMS in 2005 and previously spent 5 years at Techpacific Venture Capital Limited, where he was an investment manager of funds totalling US$100 million. Prior to this, he worked for 3 years as a software developer for technology start-ups in the United States, Japan and Hong Kong. He is a CFA charterholder and certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM).
		Shingo Kobayashi, Associate Shingo Kobayashi joined GEMS in 2007 and has around 10 years of experience in corporate finance. Prior to joining GEMS, he was Deputy Director of Principal Finance Group at Development Bank of Japan (DBJ). At DBJ he was involved in private equity investment in USA and in raising a specific fund focusing on emerging industries in Asia. He holds a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University and a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University.
		Bowie Yang, Associate Bowie Yang joined GEMS in 2007. Prior to joining GEMS, he was a senior credit analyst at ABN AMRO Bank Asia Limited, with experience covering Greater China region's financial services sector and structure transactions. Before that, he worked at National Australian Bank in Hong Kong. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Sydney, and is a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe).
		Jannal Lee, Associate Jannal Lee joined GEMS in 2007 and previously worked in the brokerage department of a local securities firm. He was responsible for sales and trading with institutional investors and involved in equity research. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Finance degree from University of Hong Kong and has passed all three levels of the CFA Program.