Bruce Rockowitz Explained

Bruce Rockowitz
Nationality:Canadian
Education:University of Vermont
Occupation:Businessman
Children:2

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]

Early life

Born 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] He became head tennis coach at the Hong Kong Country Club, where he taught the then-chairman of Li & Fung.[5]

Career

Rockowitz was hired by fellow Canadian immigrant Allan Zeman after a chance meeting in an ice-cream parlor in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. In 1981, he co-founded Colby International with Zeman, and served as CEO and president from 1986 to 2000.[5] In 2000, Victor Fung and Li & Fung acquired Colby for HK$2.2 billion, and Rockowitz was CEO from 2011 to 2014.

In May 2014, Rockowitz became vice chairman and CEO of Global Brands Group, as it was spun off from Li & Fung.[6] At the time, it was manufacturing apparel, shoes, and accessories for brands such as Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Disney, Coach, and Tommy Hilfiger. 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]

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

Rockowitz 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tycoon Talk - BRUCE ROCKOWITZ 樂裕民先生 . 2023-06-21 . tvb.com.
  2. News: Late Hong Kong pop diva Coco Lee's husband Bruce Rockowitz 'paid HK$8 million to rent penthouse for singer'.
  3. Web site: 2008-11-21 . Rockowitz parties in style . 2023-06-13 . South China Morning Post . en.
  4. News: 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 . . 2023-06-14 . . ProQuest.
  5. Web site: Zhong . Isabella . 11 August 2015 . Advantage Mr Rockowitz . 14 June 2023 . Barrons.com . . ProQuest.
  6. Web site: Executive Profile: Bruce Philip Rockowitz . Bloomberg LP . 26 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Announcements and Notices - Change in Directors or of Important Executive Functions or Responsibilities.
  8. Web site: Bruce Rockowitz Profile - Hong Kong Tatler. Hong Kong Tatler. 26 September 2018. 26 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170354/https://hk.asiatatler.com/tatler-list/500list/bruce-rockowitz-1. dead.
  9. News: Kiew . Chelsea . 14 July 2020 . Singer Coco Lee's Weibo post talks about 'a broken heart' . . 2023-07-06.
  10. Web site: Once judged, now she judges. migration. 20 February 2014. straitstimes.com. 26 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Rockowitz parties in style. Andrew Sun. 21 November 2008. scmp.com. 26 September 2018.
  12. Web site: Coco Lee And Bruce Rockowitz Wedding Banquet. gettyimages.co.uk. 26 September 2018.
  13. Web site: Chen . Vivian . 1 Nov 2011 . The world's one big extravagant stage in the enchanting world of Coco and Bruce . 13 June 2023 . SCMP.
  14. News: Pop diva Coco Lee, who has been battling depression, dies at age 48. 5 July 2023. 5 July 2023. The Straits Times. Singapore.
  15. Web site: Coco Lee dismisses marriage on the rocks.
  16. News: Coco Lee's estranged husband Bruce Rockowitz breaks his silence, calls her his 'beloved wife'. The Straits Times. 7 July 2023. Sng. Suzanne.
  17. Web site: 李玟丈夫多次出軌繼女背叛或成輕生離世導火線- 東張+ . zh-hant.
  18. News: Coco Lee's estranged husband Bruce Rockowitz attends memorial service with daughters.
  19. News: 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 . zh-hant.
  20. News: Late singer Coco Lee's estranged husband says at crematorium he loved her.