CDFG President Charles Chen honoured with inaugural Trinity Award
Charles Chen has enjoyed a stellar career with China Duty Free Group (CDFG) that began in 1987 and which saw him take the leadership reins in 2016. Since becoming President, he has driven the company from being the 12th biggest travel retailer worldwide to number one. He has also spearheaded CDFG’s two extraordinary projects in Hainan province, the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex and the recently opened cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex. What better candidate then for the inaugural Trinity Award?
In an emotional culmination to The Trinity Forum 2022 in Singapore, China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen was presented with the inaugural Trinity Award for his outstanding contribution to the travel retail industry over a remarkable 35-year career.
Mr Chen, who had delivered a keynote address on day one of The Trinity Forum, was presented with the award by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie during the Gala Dinner at Jewel Changi Airport hosted by Changi Airport Group.
China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen accepts the inaugural Trinity Award for his outstanding contribution to the travel retail industry from The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie
Moodie told guests of Charles Chen’s immense contribution to China’s travel retail industry during a career that has spanned three and a half decades. He described China Duty Free Group as “a beacon of light” to the travel retail community through the pandemic when the rest of the industry globally had been plunged into darkness.
China Duty Free Group had risen from number 19 in the global travel retail rankings in 2010 to number one a decade later, Moodie said, a leadership position it has subsequently strengthened. Since assuming his leadership role in 2016, Charles Chen had driven China Duty Free Group to extraordinary new heights, Moodie added.
“Charles Chen has led China Duty Free Group with vision, determination, charisma, warmth and humanity. He is an outstanding individual,” Moodie said. “What a story it has been. And China Duty Free Group enjoyed a fantastic new high last Friday [28 October] with the opening of the cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping complex, which includes the world’s biggest duty free duty free retail operation – not just big but also beautiful.”
Chen was greeted with a standing ovation as he came to the stage to accept the award from Moodie. In a heartfelt speech, he thanked his business partners for all their support during his career and especially during recent years in helping to propel China Duty Free Group into the number one ranking industry player.
Charles Chen listens on as The Trinity Award is announced
And reacts with delight as he is revealed as the recipient of the inaugural Trinity Award. Changi Airport Group EVP, Commercial Lim Peck Hoon congratulates him.
Charles Chen thanks the travel retail community for their support of China Duty Free Group and expresses his pride in receiving The Trinity Award
He vowed that China Duty Free Group would continue to grow and to collaborate closely with its business partners. He invited members of the audience to visit China and to discover for themselves the new store in Haikou and other aspects of the China Duty Free Group business.
“Thank you very much for this award,” he said. “It really means a lot to me and to China Duty Free Group.”
(Left to right) Changi Airport Group CEO Lee Seow Hiang and Martin Moodie prepare to toast Charles Chen after his recognition
The Moodie Davitt eZine Issue 317 | 22 November 2022
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