Sunny Wong Hak-kun
Mr Sunny Wong Hak-kun
Honorary University Fellow (2023)
HKBU’s aspiration to be “A Leading University in Asia For the World” resonates with people on many levels, and the personal journey of Mr Sunny Wong Hak-kun, an outstanding entrepreneur and HKBU alumnus, is an example of how an individual brought his vision to life.
After graduating from Hong Kong Baptist College (now Hong Kong Baptist University) with a Diploma in Business Management in 1978, Mr Wong was awarded a Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Full-time) from the University of Bath in the UK in 2001. A prominent business executive, Mr Wong has held leadership roles in local and international conglomerates. With over 30 years’ experience in the Greater China beverage market, he is considered an iconic figure in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Apart from his business achievements, Mr Wong has also dedicated himself to different causes in the community, through his support of the underprivileged groups and endeavours to improve society. In addition, he has spared no efforts in nurturing young people. He is currently the Director of Rise Counselling Service Limited, which offers coaching services to senior corporate executives.
Mr Wong was the Chief Executive Officer of Carlsberg Greater China from 2006 to 2011 and Chairman from 2011 to 2014. Under his leadership, he grew Carlsberg’s business footprint with 60 breweries in Mainland China and over 15,000 staff. He also catapulted the Carlsberg brand to become the second-largest brand in the international premium beer segment in Mainland China. From 2014 to 2019, as the Executive Director of Tibet Water Resources Limited, Mr Wong successfully helped build the brand as one of the top brands in glacier mineral water, and expanded its marketing and sales network across the nation.
A distinguished business leader, Mr Wong has created countless success stories and broken many new grounds with his remarkable leadership, acute business acumen and exceptional management capabilities. An advocate of servant leadership, Mr Wong believes that effective leadership is key to a company’s success, with authentic leaders who empower, trust and treat their peers and staff with respect and integrity. Given the prosperity of the city and the nation also depends on their leaders’ guidance and legacy, Mr Wong has taken the lead in walking the talk, by sharing his own experience and providing leadership training services to universities, corporations and various institutions. In sharing what he has learned over the years, he hopes to inspire and encourage the young in their pursuit of excellence. Mr Wong’s passion in education played a key role in reigniting his ties with HKBU, his alma mater.
Over a lunch gathering back in 2009, Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, the then Chair Professor of Finance and Dean of the School of Business at HKBU, said to Mr Wong, “It is time for you to reconnect with your alma mater and help nurture our younger students.” Mr Wong accepted the offer with no reservation and this marked the start of an amicable and impactful collaboration with HKBU.
Over the years, Mr Wong has devoted himself to various initiatives and educational activities of HKBU. He has imparted business knowledge to students and inspired them through becoming an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business, and an Industry Fellow with the “Business Entrepreneurship Support and Training Community” programme. He also led and supported many initiatives, such as workshops, lectures, forums and mentorship programmes which contributed to the whole-person development of students, a core mission of HKBU. He has been a much sought-after speaker and has shared his insights with HKBU’s staff, students and alumni on numerous occasions. Thanks to his fervent support, since 2017, Tibet Water Resources Limited was the title sponsor of the “HKBU-Tibet 5100 Golf Day” for three consecutive years and helped raise funds for the University’s long-term development.
Apart from HKBU, Mr Wong has also served as an Adjunct Professor on subjects related to marketing and branding, merger and acquisition, and leadership for degree and EMBA programmes for universities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan. Mr Wong believes a University’s mission should transcend the sharing of knowledge and also make an impact on the students’ character development and ability to discern and embrace diversity. With resilience and a leadership mindset, the young can unleash their potential and be a force for progress for the community, the nation and the world.
Mr Wong is currently a Court Member of HKBU and was an Honorary Court Member from 2018 to 2022. He is also a member of the Board of Governors, the Chairman of the Alumni Committee, as well as an Honorary Director of the HKBU Foundation. In recognition of his distinguished achievements and contributions, HKBU bestowed the Distinguished Alumni Award upon Mr Wong in 2016-17. The Honorary University Fellowship is yet another befitting tribute to Mr Wong’s vocation and devotion to the different sectors of society over the years.