McDonald’s Hong Kong named Company of the Year at SCMP Live’s Business Awards

McDonald’s Hong Kong was voted Company of the Year at the 2025 Business Awards organised by SCMP Live, a highlight for the company as it marks half a century of operating in the city.\nThe restaurant chain’s CEO Randy Lai and chairman Zhang Yichen received the award from SCMP’s CEO Catherine So during a lunch ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday. The toned-down ceremony replaced the black-tie gala dinners that traditionally capped the annual awards since their establishment in 1990, as a sign of respect for the victims of the Tai Po fire tragedy that took place late last month.\n“Today we honour the outstanding achievements of corporate executives, SME owners, start-up founders, and companies that shape the future of Asia’s business excellence,” So said. “We are expanding this programme to serve as Asia’s premier platform for cross-border innovation, transformative leadership, and sustainable growth; also to serve as a strategic bridge between Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial heritage and accelerating economic integration in the Greater Bay Area.”\nA total of 43 nominations were received for the awards in six categories, honouring the most noteworthy business owner, corporate executive, company, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), start-up and the best globalised brand. A discretionary award honouring lifetime achievement did not receive any nominations.\n\nNominations were submitted by industry peers, and the winners picked by a panel of 11 judges by secret ballot, comprising seven permanent judges and four rotating judges invited from among the previous winners of the DHL-SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards, which ceased last year.\nThe nomination papers, comprising financial statements and other support documents lodged with the awards’ website, were first normalised by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), which serves as the knowledge partner, led by CIMA Council member William Chen. The papers were normalised into mutually comparable data sets, graded and submitted to the panel of judges for their votes.\nMcDonald’s Hong Kong was voted the winner by a panel of judges. Gleneagles Hong Kong and Uni-Bio Science Pharm Company were the finalists in the category.\nThe highlight of the ceremony was a fireside chat with three-time award winner Allan Zeman, the founder and chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group, who was honoured with DHL-SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards in 1998, 2008 and 2023, moderated by So.\n\nHe Xiaopeng, the CEO and one of the co-founders of the electric-car maker Xpeng, received the Business Owner of the Year accolade. He, who could not return to Hong Kong from a US business trip, was represented by Jerry Lam. The other two finalists in this category were WeavAir’s founder Nataliya Mykhaylova and Pacific Hawk Group’s CEO Ann Cooley.\nLawrence Lam, the CEO of Prudential Hong Kong, won the Corporate Executive of the Year award in a category that included the finalists Dominic Law of Neopets and Victor Shevstsov, the executive vice-president of supply chain at Carlsberg Group.\nTelefield Medical Imaging, which provides a 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system, was recognised as the SME of the Year. WeavAir and ChoZan were the other finalists in this category.\nBioZein, a producer of biodegradable and renewable zein as a replacement for microplastics, won the Start-up of the Year award. The other finalists were Climind and Immuno Cure Holding.\nAPT Electronics, one of the world’s largest producers of silicon carbide chips used in the automotive industry, won the Globalisation Award for its achievement in driving Hong Kong’s brand overseas. AsiaPay and OrbusNeich Medical Group were the other finalists in this category.\n