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PERSONALITY Strictly for the Very Rich

Two friends, one great idea. The result — a lot of high net worth people will be converging in Kuala Lumpur in June, writes INTAN MAIZURA AHMAD KAMAL

ENGLAND and Europe were showing cracks of an economic downturn. Meanwhile, in a London bar, two young lawyers and a man in the private jet line were discussing the sorry state of the economy over a couple of drinks.

The third man told the two lawyers — Malaysian Tan Wei Ming and Londoner Guy Holland — that his company was having difficulties in Europe and was interested in tapping into the Asian market.

“That’s how it all started,” recalls Tan, providing the background to the forthcoming High Net Worth Summit (HNWS) 2009, a bespoke, multi-sensorial, global event tailored for high net worth individuals.

Participation is by invitation only and don’t expect to be invited unless you have a net worth of US$30 million and above – excluding your primary residence!

“We realised that companies from Europe and England needed an opportunity, a format that would allow them to come to Asia to see and experience the market without having to take a huge financial risk. What they really needed was essentially a big expo where they could come and meet the people they need as their market,” adds Holland, who is practising law at a respected London Chambers specialising in Property Law.

Tan, 33, is well acquainted with the luxury lifestyle as his business interests include Thalgo South East Asia and Iyecon, a consultancy firm for international hotels such as the Starwood Group. When he returned home, he spoke to his partners here to see how they could fine-tune such a project. Research and development took them six months.

“We came up with this platform for companies to do business and for individuals to network. It’s essentially a congregation of high-end, unique and interesting brands and companies and a gathering of high net worth individuals,” says Tan.

“I also work as a hotel consultant. Sometimes clients in India or Singapore, for example, ask me to introduce them to clients in other countries. They actually want to sit down with people who are similar in net worth or have similar business interests so that they can talk business. It was then that I realised there was no such platform. There are many possibilities for global networking.”

The present economic climate doesn’t seem to faze the two chaps, buddies for the last 10 years who met while studying for their Bar at Inns Of Court School Of Law in London.

Says Tan: “If you look at today’s situation, we ARE affected but compared with North America or Europe, we’re still the least affected region at this point and we’d probably recover the fastest.”

Holland chips in: “In many ways it’s easier for us to attract companies because now, they have to search out opportunities in a way that they didn’t have to 18 months ago.”

Has anything like this been done before?

“There have been exhibitions aimed at the luxury end of the market in other continents but I don’t think anything’s been done with a view to create an opportunity for commercial and business people to speak to each other directly,” replies Holland, a soft-spoken Libran who’s the UK project director. “It’s a combination of luxury goods and luxury end of the market and a chance for business interaction – it’s this combination that hasn’t been done before.”

As far as numbers go, 50 per cent of those invited will be from Asia and the other half will be split between Europe, North America, the Middle East, Russia and South Africa.

“We even have some companies and brands that are based here and working with us. We’re essentially giving them a very cost and time efficient platform to bum up their revenue,” adds Tan.

Malaysia, continues the affable Taurean, stands to benefit from this exercise. “With this platform, many of the foreign brands that we’re bringing in can test drive our country. And there’ll be those that will consider investing here. We’re also bringing in some high net worth individuals, so a bit of spending here can’t do any harm to the economy. Furthermore, we work with global brands and big partners and we’re all looking at Malaysia as a hub. The message we’re sending out is that we can be a hub for an international event.”

Summit talk aside, what makes the two friends tick?

‘We both enjoy golf,” says Tan, chuckling. “And cars. Guy has a fancy Porsche, while I drive something a bit more grown-up – a BMW!”

They also share a mutual passion for design and the finer things in life. Holland, having established himself as a lawyer, proceeded to combine his profession with something more creative and ended up studying furniture design at the world renowned St Martin’s School of Art And Fashion, part time. The two are also partners in Holland And Tan, an exclusive London-based furniture and design consultancy.

‘Although I don’t have a design background, I enjoy getting involved in it,” confesses Tan.

The son of an entrepreneur father (printing, property, trading) and a banker mother, he says: “I’m a bit like my father – a Jack of all trades. I believe in doing what you love. Most people tell you to love what you do but I always say you have to first enjoy it and then do it. Although I spent some time in a law firm, I had set my sights on business. So here I am!”

The HNWS will be on June 16-19, 2009, at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

Source : NST e-media online