HKRFU Appoints Rocky Chow as GM Marketing and Communications

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) has appointed Mr Rocky Chow, Sze Ho, as General Manager of Marketing and Communications.

Mr Chow will assume the position starting on 1 October 2015. Mr Chow becomes the most senior ethnic Chinese employed by the HKRFU, assuming one of three General Manager positions (alongside Robbie McRobbie, GM of Operations and Commercial and Dai Rees as GM of Performance Rugby) at the HKRFU and will be instrumental in the HKRFU’s continued drive to embed rugby in the local community.

“We received several very strong applicants for the position and amongst these Mr Chow was the superlative candidate. Not only does he have proven commercial acumen and a track record of marketing success, but his familiarity with Hong Kong Rugby and his unique understanding of developing the game in the wider community make him the ideal candidate,” said Mr Vern Reid, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.

Mr Chow is a fitness industry executive with over 20 years of experience in the management and operation of multinational health and wellbeing corporations. He joins the HKRFU from California Fitness, where he has assumed a variety of roles over a 16-year tenure.

Most recently, Mr Chow was Chief Operating Officer at California Fitness, a position he has held since 2012. Prior to that he served as Senior Vice President, Sales, Fitness and Marketing, Asia Pacific for the international fitness chain.

Throughout his career, Mr Chow has demonstrated a capability for developing high impact marketing strategies and driving significant revenue growth as well as increasing operational efficiency.

During his time with California Fitness, Chow managed over 500 employees and was responsible for generating USD 120 million in annual revenue across China, Hong Kong and Singapore. He was instrumental in transforming California Fitness’s operations from a single territory to 19 outlets in five cities and three territories.

Mr Chow is a graduate of Australia’s University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Administration.

A familiar face in local rugby circles, Mr Chow is a long-standing member of the Hong Kong Rugby community and has been integrally involved with the development of Gai Wu RFC, one of Hong Kong’s pioneering Chinese rugby clubs. He still represents Gai Wu’s first XV as a hooker.

He also represented the Hong Kong Dragons in the early 1990s being selected for tours to Singapore and Thailand. Prior to that Mr Chow played for Tigers RFU in the early 1990s becoming one of the first local players to play first division rugby in Hong Kong.

Mr Chow commented on his appointment saying, “It is always rewarding to have a career in a field that you are passionate about. For the past 20 years I have enjoyed my journey in the Fitness industry and I am excited about this new opportunity to progress the next chapter of my career around another personal passion – rugby. Rugby is the ultimate team sport with everyone required to support the ultimate goal. I take the same approach in my professional career and am very excited to be joining the dedicated team at the HKRFU. I look forward to be working together with the Union staff, the Board of Directors and the entire community to promote this great sport. I hope to continue the HKRFU’s efforts in ensuring that rugby is a sport that engenders pride and excitement among the people of Hong Kong.”