Bruce Philip Rockowitz (born 1958; Chinese name: 樂裕民)[1] is a Canadian businessman based in Hong Kong. He is the chairman of Rock Media International, co-founder of the Pure Group and a director of technology consultancy firm Step Digital Group.[2]
Bruce Rockowitz | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1958 (age 65–66) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | University of Vermont |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editBorn in 1958,[3] Rockowitz grew up in Boston, Massachusetts.[4] Rockowitz dropped out of the University of Vermont to play tennis professionally in Hong Kong in 1979.[5][4] He became head tennis coach at the Hong Kong Country Club, where he taught the then-chairman of Li & Fung.[5]
Career
editRockowitz was hired by fellow Canadian immigrant Allan Zeman after a chance meeting in an ice-cream parlor in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong.[4] In 1981, he co-founded Colby International with Zeman, and served as CEO and president from 1986 to 2000.[6][5] In 2000, Victor Fung and Li & Fung acquired Colby for HK$2.2 billion, and Rockowitz was CEO from 2011 to 2014.[6]
In May 2014, Rockowitz became vice chairman and CEO of Global Brands Group, as it was spun off from Li & Fung.[6][5] At the time, it was manufacturing apparel, shoes, and accessories for brands such as Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Disney, Coach, and Tommy Hilfiger.[5] He left Global Brands in 2019.[7]
He is the co-founder and non-executive chairman of The Pure Group fitness and restaurant chain.[8][4]
Rockowitz is a member of the advisory boards for the Wharton School's Jay H Baker Retailing Center [8] and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Personal life
editRockowitz is Jewish.[9] He has two daughters from his first marriage.[10] For his birthday in 2008, then-fiancée Lee hosted a party at Hong Kong's Grand Hyatt hotel, guests included Philip Green, Richard Caring, Solomon Lew, and Marc Ecko, and performers included Dita von Teese, Lionel Richie, Rihanna, Jewel, and David Blaine.[11]
Rockowitz married the Hong Kong singer Coco Lee in a Jewish ceremony[9] in October 2011. Performers at the lavish wedding banquet included Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Ne-Yo.[8][12][13]
On 2 July 2023, Lee (who had been suffering from depression) reportedly attempted suicide in Hong Kong and died there on 5 July 2023, at the age of 48.[14]
Bruce was blamed by some for allegedly cheating on Lee. There were reports saying that Lee and her husband had been separated for some time before she died, and that they were due to sign the divorce papers in July 2023.[15][16][17][18] When asked, "Can you say something to Coco?" on 1 August 2023 outside the crematorium where he was mobbed by Coco's fans, Rockowitz said, "I love her. My whole life."[19][20]
References
edit- ^ "Tycoon Talk - BRUCE ROCKOWITZ 樂裕民先生". tvb.com. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ^ "Late Hong Kong pop diva Coco Lee's husband Bruce Rockowitz 'paid HK$8 million to rent penthouse for singer'".
- ^ "Rockowitz parties in style". South China Morning Post. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b c d Tsang, Denise (June 25, 2011). "Well served by a change of game: He came for six months to teach tennis, but was courted by Allan Zeman. Then China opened its doors, and the rest is history for Bruce Rockowitz". South China Morning Post. ProQuest 875105996. Retrieved 2023-06-14 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e Zhong, Isabella (11 August 2015). "Advantage Mr Rockowitz". Barrons.com. ProQuest 2064729332. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c "Executive Profile: Bruce Philip Rockowitz". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Announcements and Notices - Change in Directors or of Important Executive Functions or Responsibilities" (PDF).
- ^ a b c "Bruce Rockowitz Profile - Hong Kong Tatler". Hong Kong Tatler. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ a b Kiew, Chelsea (14 July 2020). "Singer Coco Lee's Weibo post talks about 'a broken heart'". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ migration (20 February 2014). "Once judged, now she judges". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Andrew Sun (21 November 2008). "Rockowitz parties in style". scmp.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Coco Lee And Bruce Rockowitz Wedding Banquet". gettyimages.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Chen, Vivian (1 Nov 2011). "The world's one big extravagant stage in the enchanting world of Coco and Bruce". SCMP. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Pop diva Coco Lee, who has been battling depression, dies at age 48". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Coco Lee dismisses marriage on the rocks".
- ^ Sng, Suzanne (7 July 2023). "Coco Lee's estranged husband Bruce Rockowitz breaks his silence, calls her his 'beloved wife'". The Straits Times.
- ^ "李玟丈夫多次出軌繼女背叛或成輕生離世導火線- 東張+" (in Traditional Chinese).
- ^ "Coco Lee's estranged husband Bruce Rockowitz attends memorial service with daughters".
- ^ "李玟老公Bruce險被圍毆！吐這句粉絲全怒暴動 哭喊攔車敲窗不讓走" (in Traditional Chinese).
- ^ "Late singer Coco Lee's estranged husband says at crematorium he loved her".