Will lead the development of the Club’s long-term IT strategy in alignment with its business needs.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has hired Ramez Younan to join the Club at Executive Director, Information Technology and Sustainability (Designate).
He will assume the role of Executive Director, Information Technology and Sustainability from 1 January 2022, succeeding Christoph Ganswindt upon his retirement. Younan will be a member of the Board of Management and report directly to the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
At the helm of the Club’s IT organisation in Hong Kong and at its Shenzhen Technology Centre, Younan will lead the development of the Club’s long-term IT strategy in alignment with its business needs and those of its customers. He will spearhead the ongoing digitalisation of products and services for greater efficiency and effectiveness, information security and regulatory compliance. Younan will also oversee the Club’s Sustainability department and lead the development of its strategy, which prioritises the reduction of carbon emissions, energy use and waste.
Younan is a seasoned IT leader with over 30 years of global experience spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, having served in senior executive positions in Oracle in the US and the UK, as well as Orga Systems in Germany as Chief Executive Officer. In 2013 he joined Hong Kong’s PCCW Solutions (“PCCWS”). As PCCWS Chief Executive Officer since 2015, he spearheaded many major initiatives, including digital transformations and managed services for numerous government and local authorities’ applications and infrastructure systems.
Younan earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cairo University in Egypt and an MBA from City University of London.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution.
Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2020/21, the Club returned a total of $US29.4 billion to the community. This included $US24.9 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and $US4.5 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.
Recently the Club released its first version of new HKJC TV feature “Find My Horse” (Powered by AI) available for download, providing a personalised live racing experience
In response to customers’ needs, the Club has launched its first version of the “Find My Horse”, a new feature of the HKJC TV mobile app.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), “Find My Horse” can track and indicate the position of a horse selected by the user on a phone or tablet screen during live races. “Find My Horse” uses AI technology to recognise the horse of your choice at local race meetings, providing fans with a more personalised racing experience.
“We continuously strive to improve the customer experience by employing leading innovations in the global racing industry. AI is something that improves as it learns, and we appreciate our customers’ understanding,” said Richard Cheung, Executive Director, Customer and International Business Development of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
