WHERE THERE’S HOPE, NOTHING IS EVER HOPELESS…

I don’t know much about the gentleman, but having watched him interview Andre Agassi, one of my all-time favourite tennis players who brought so much colour and personality to the game including tie dyed cut-off jeans and a certain Rock’N Roll spirit to centre court, came the realisation that the interviewer was Anil Wadhwani, the 53 year old CEO of Prudential plc.

What Prudential is doing for Hong Kong and Asia and the generations to come- read on to understand the insurance and asset management’s corporate mission ethos- certainly have my personal thanks and vote of confidence.

Through focusing and promoting racquet sports in Hong Kong and being the sponsor of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025, the company is also helping to bring pickleball into the mainstream arena, something which some of us were and are still hoping to get off the ground in this city and in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka with the sport being hugely popular in India.

There’s much more…

What one found likeable about watching this CEO interview a very much open and giving and frank Andre Agassi as part of Prudential’s NextGen Aces programme was a humility that’s refreshing- a humility and respect between interviewer and interviewee.

Agassi admitting to the mistakes he has made, had me thinking about how young we were and struggling in ways we didn’t understand to get ahead.

Listening to how he picked himself up and has re-married, is a father, and shown his commitment to those at-risk young people through his charity work and various foundations he has created for the development of future leaders speaks volumes about the person Andre Agassi has become.

With age comes a certain maturity, and also a responsibility and blessing for everything that have got many of us to where we are, and from where we can help those who might need a sense of direction.

For myself, I was extremely fortunate to meet Keith Reinhard, my mentor in advertising, and very probably my life coach.

I continue to be blessed for meeting the girl who became my wife and with whom we have a beautiful daughter. She and I might no longer be together, but she will live in my heart forever and continues to walk beside me. I am a lucky guy.

As for Prudential plc, with its leadership and teamwork, apart from its core business, the insurance company is focused in mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders in Hong Kong- and throughout Asia.

As someone born in Sri Lanka, and who has lived and worked most of his life in Hong Kong, and achieved more than I ever could have imagined, mentoring young talent is something that is close to my heart and very much needed.

Despite listening to all the talk for close to five years from various people about making this a reality, not much of any significance has happened.

Until now, that is, and for this, I thank whoever and whatever guided me to where I decided to watch this interview with Andre Agassi on the Prudential NextGen Aces series.

It has given me the hope that here is a team that has a certain empathy I don’t find nor trust in many other organisations- and it has the ability to deliver and make a difference.

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Born in Ceylon, Hans Ebert is an award winning advertising executive whose powerful campaign to gain the Right Of Abode in the United Kingdom for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong won Gold at the London Advertising Awards.

He also helped launch McDonald’s in Hong Kong, created the Happy Wednesday brand for the HKJC, was part of the team to launch STARTV and MTV in Asia plus ran the International divisions of Universal Music and EMI Music in Asia.

As a journalist, he has interviewed every from Billy Joel, legendary music producer Quincy Jones, and actor Peter Sellers to working on music for David Bowie, Robbie Williams and Gorillaz.

He also coined the term Canto Pop when writing for Billboard magazine.

He has a penchant for women who remind him of Diane Keaton.