socalfunplaces Chapter 145 Chinese Capital Has Raised Its Head
Chapter 145 Chinese Capital Has Raised Its Head
The shipping magnate's motorcade drove in a grand procession through the streets of Hong Kong, attracting the attention of passersby.
When the convoy stopped in front of the Wharf headquarters building, reporters who had been waiting at the entrance immediately swarmed forward, flashes went off everywhere, and the sound of camera shutters went off incessantly.
The shipping magnate stepped out of his car, faced the camera, and smiled gently and confidently.
He didn't linger, simply answering a few questions from reporters before leading his team into the building.
In the lobby on the first floor, many Wharf employees were standing aside, looking at the group of uninvited guests with complicated expressions.
The foreigners from Jardine Matheson did not show up; they simply instructed their subordinates to handle the handover.
Some of them had worked at Wharf Holdings for most of their lives and had a deep affection for this long-established foreign company. Now that it had changed hands, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.
The shipping magnate noticed their gazes, paused slightly, turned around, and nodded slightly to them.
"Thank you all for your hard work. The foundation of Wharf is you long-time employees, and we will not shake it easily."
That simple sentence acted like a reassurance, easing the tension in the veteran employees' expressions somewhat.
Afterwards, the shipping magnate and his entourage went straight into the high-level conference room of Wharf Holdings.
The original management team was already waiting there, each of them wearing a somewhat restrained and uneasy expression.
The shipping magnate sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power.
"From today onwards, I officially take over the operation and management of Wharf Holdings."
He gestured to the HR director behind him, who immediately stepped forward and distributed a draft management adjustment plan to everyone.
"This plan was formulated after comprehensive consideration."
The shipping magnate's voice rang in everyone's ears in the conference room.
"Three veteran employees familiar with Wharf Holdings' business will be retained for core management positions."
For the remaining positions, we will bring in key personnel from our group. Only through the integration of old and new talent can Wharf Holdings go further.
He paused, looked at everyone, and his eyes were sincere.
"I know that you may have concerns, but please believe that our goal is to revitalize Wharf Holdings."
"Let everyone who contributes to Wharf receive the rewards they deserve."
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually eased, and a hint of relief finally appeared on their previously tense faces.
No sooner had the shipping magnate finished speaking than a soft, cold snort came from the corner of the conference room.
The sound wasn't loud, but it sounded particularly jarring in the atmosphere that had just eased.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man sitting at the very end slowly raise his head, his face showing a hint of arrogance and disdain.
His name is Xu Nanyang. He is a veteran figure at Wharf Holdings, having worked his way up from the bottom to the position of vice president.
Having worked at Wharf Holdings for over two decades, he has connections with many long-time employees and is a confidant of the former chairman.
"The shipping magnate's words are certainly eloquent."
Xu Nanyang put down the plan in his hand, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
"But we, Wharf Holdings, are a long-established enterprise in Hong Kong, not a pawn to be manipulated at will."
Replacing the old with the new, in the end, won't it still drain Wharf's coffers?
The moment he said that, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.
The relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense again.
Several Wharf executives lowered their heads, their eyes flickering, clearly harboring the same concerns, but none dared to voice them as directly as Xu Nanyang.
The shipping magnate's gaze fell on Xu Nanyang, his eyes calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.
He didn't get angry immediately; instead, he raised his eyebrows slightly and spoke calmly.
"I can understand Mr. Xu's feelings for Wharf after spending more than 20 years here."
But your statement is far too extreme.
"extreme?"
Xu Nanyang sneered, stood up, pointed at the plan in his hand, and suddenly raised his voice.
"Shipping magnate, you might want to take a look at this restructuring plan and see how much of our original Wharf Holdings' business has been cut?"
How many veteran employees who worked hard alongside the former chairman have been replaced?
You keep saying you want to retain capable people, but what I see is that you want to purge all the old hands from Wharf Holdings and replace them with your own people!
His words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
Several mid-level managers at Wharf Holdings couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their unease becoming increasingly apparent.
Upon seeing this, Zhang, the group's vice president behind the shipping magnate, frowned and was about to retort when the shipping magnate raised his hand to stop him.
The shipping magnate slowly walked up to Xu Nanyang, his gaze sweeping over Xu's sneer before turning to the various expressions on the faces of the people in the conference room.
His voice was not loud, but each word was clear:
"I know that many of you here have been with Wharf Holdings for ten, twenty years, or even longer."
"You've poured your youth and energy into this place, you have an emotional attachment to Wharf Holdings, and you're afraid it will change, afraid it will lose its original form—that's perfectly normal."
He paused, then continued, "But has anyone thought about why Wharf Holdings has come to this point?"
The former chairman's stagnation and unwillingness to adapt led Wharf Holdings into a quagmire of equity disputes.
If we hadn't intervened, what would Wharf be in now?
It was probably already broken up and sold off, ending up in a fragmented state.
These words were piercing and to the core.
Xu Nanyang's face turned pale, and he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a rebuttal.
"As for the adjustment plan, I can tell you clearly that the businesses that have been cut are all burdens that have been losing money year after year and dragging down Wharf's overall revenue."
What remains are Wharf Holdings' core assets and profitable projects.
The management reshuffle is not about laying off veteran employees, but about selecting the best candidates...
As long as you have the ability to create value for Wharf Holdings, whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, you'll have a place to stand.
As he spoke, he gestured to the HR director to distribute a document.
"This is Wharf Holdings' development plan for the next three years. You can take a look."
We plan to invest HK$2 billion to upgrade and renovate the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier and expand our cross-border logistics business.
Modernize and renovate office buildings in Central to attract more multinational corporations.
At the same time, it is also necessary to revitalize its idle shopping malls and create one-stop consumer experience centers.
Everyone picked up the documents and began to look through them.
When he saw the specific plans and data, his tense expression gradually relaxed.
Especially the veteran employees in charge of core businesses, when they saw that the shipping magnate not only did not give up the traditional advantages of Wharf Holdings, but also planned to invest heavily in upgrading, all showed surprise and anticipation in their eyes.
Xu Nanyang also picked up a planning document, his eyes quickly scanning it, his fingers trembling slightly.
He had to admit that the shipping magnate's plan was far superior to the previous chairman's defensive strategy and was more in line with Wharf's long-term development.
"Of course," the shipping magnate's voice rang out again, breaking the silence in the conference room.
"I know that a single planning document is not enough to dispel everyone's concerns."
I can make a promise to everyone...
Over the next year, the salaries of all Wharf employees will be increased by 10%.
Employees in core business departments will receive additional performance bonuses.
These words immediately caused an uproar in the conference room.
"Really? Salaries are going to increase by ten percent?"
"It seems the shipping magnate really intends to develop Kowloon Wharf properly, and isn't here to sabotage it."
Amid the discussions, praise gradually drowned out the doubts.
Several people who had been silent with Xu Nanyang couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their faces showing excitement.
Xu Nanyang looked at the scene before him, his face turning pale and then red. Finally, he let out a long sigh.
He silently put down the planning document in his hand and bowed slightly to the shipping magnate.
"The shipping magnate is farsighted, and I was short-sighted. I apologize for my behavior just now."
The shipping magnate nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face:
"To err is human, to forgive divine. Vice President Xu has been deeply involved in Wharf Holdings for many years and is familiar with the operational processes. I hope you can stay and take charge of the upgrade and transformation project, so as to contribute to the revitalization of Wharf Holdings."
Xu Nanyang suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He originally thought that he would definitely be fired for talking back to the shipping magnate, but to his surprise, the shipping magnate not only did not blame him, but also entrusted him with important responsibilities.
"Shipping magnate..." Xu Nanyang's voice choked with emotion, "I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
The shipping magnate patted him on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:
"If anyone has any questions, please ask them now."
We spoke openly, addressing problems and dispelling concerns.
The meeting room fell silent; no one raised any further objections.
After the meeting, the shipping magnate went to the chairman's office. He had just sat down when the door was pushed open.
Manager Li from the public relations department strode in, holding a newspaper in his hand, a happy look on his face.
"Shipping magnate, great news! Following our announcement, the market reacted enthusiastically, and Wharf Holdings' share price rose by 5% at the opening today!"
This news is undoubtedly the icing on the cake.
The shipping magnate took the newspaper, looked at the stock price chart on the front page, and his smile grew even wider.
The turmoil surrounding Wharf Holdings' takeover bid has finally subsided...
...