SPOTLIGHT 市场聚焦 30 | JNA March/April 2024 When Jonathan Cheng and Terence Lee first joined the family business, they had been living the dream and thriving in their respective careers – Jonathan as a financial specialist at Credit Suisse Prime Services and Terence as a medical doctor practising in New York. Nowadays, these two bright individuals are the shining stars of Rio Pearl. As company directors, they successfully turned the business that their fathers had built into one of today’s most innovative and dynamic pearl companies globally. They count stronger output, business expansion and production of higher-quality pearls among their manifold achievements at Rio Pearl. Shared legacy Both 37 years old, Jonathan and Terence were childhood friends whose fathers, Johnny Cheng and George Lee, established the company’s pearl farm in the Mergui Archipelagos of Myanmar in 2010. Rio Pearl, however, traces its roots to 1983 when it was founded by Johnny as a wholesale business, supplying freshwater and Akoya pearls. Over the years, the company has transitioned into South Sea pearl production. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Terence’s relationship grew organically, influenced and, in many ways, inspired by their fathers’ decades-long friendship. “Our families have always been close. Our fathers were born the same year, and their birthdays are a month apart. They have been friends for over 30 years. I believe it was destiny that brought Terence and me together,” Jonathan said. Jonathan joined Rio Pearl in 2013, leaving behind a career in finance that he loved in order to fulfil his duty to the family. Terence, for his part, was working at Richmond University Medical Center in New York when he decided to become a part of Rio Pearl in 2018. “My strongest passion is now dedicated to the art of pearl cultivation,” revealed Terence. Based in Hong Kong, Jonathan oversees the sales and business aspect of Rio Pearl, while Terence manages the pearl farm in Myanmar, his medical expertise proving instrumental in navigating the science behind pearl cultivation. With them at the helm, Rio Pearl has since grown its production more than tenfold and expanded to three different pearl cultivation sites in Myanmar. The quality of the harvest has also improved. According to Jonathan, initial harvests were mainly light gold, champagne or yellow pearls as opposed to the coveted dark gold pearls that Rio Pearl is now known for. The company produces medium and light gold pearls as well. “We also launched Rainbow Gold in August 2023 and Myanmar’s first white South Sea pearls in January 2024,” he added. At present, Rio Pearl considers Rainbow Gold as its “highest level of golden South Sea pearl,” as it bears dark and medium gold colours with vibrant green, red and pink undertones never before seen in the industry. The company also created a global sales platform with the launch of the Rio Pearl Auction in 2014 aimed at catering to a diverse set of buyers. Young and promising According to Terence, a company’s success hinges upon the well-being of employees; hence, a good leader prioritises effective communication. “Attentively listening to my team’s opinions, especially in the demanding field of pearl cultivation, with its physical challenges and unpredictable nature, is crucial,” noted Terence. “I actively participate | Bernardette Sto. Domingo 杜明高 | Jonathan Cheng and Terence Lee, directors of Rio Pearl 丽雅珠行总经理郑俊鸿及李小虎 Two promising young men from very different professional backgrounds are making strides at Rio Pearl and in the pearl industry, proving yet again that resilience, perseverance and a visionary spirit are keys to success in the trade. 两位专业背景迥异、 前途无量的年青人投入珍珠业，在丽雅珠行积极发展，并取得了重要成果，再次证明了坚韧不拔、 锲而不舍和富有远见的精神是在商贸中取得成功的关键。 A tale of two achievers 两位成功人士的故事 Jonathan Cheng and Terence Lee 郑俊鸿和李小虎:
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