One name resonates with a symphony of innovation and creativity in the bustling nexus of technology, finance, and art: Alan Lau. With a career spanning two decades and traversing diverse landscapes, Alan has pioneered transformative ventures and left an indelible mark on industries ranging from finance to technology and the arts.
Alan Lau, the former CEO of WeSure, Tencent’s insurance arm, now oversees Animoca Brands’ extensive portfolio of over 340 companies, leads mergers and acquisitions, and drives business development efforts. Before joining Animoca Brands, Lau co-founded WeSure, a fintech company that provided affordable Internet insurance to WeChat users, insuring over 100 million families in China. He has a background in corporate finance, having worked at Citibank and McKinsey, where he led the Greater China Corporate Finance Practice. Lau also has a strong presence in the art world, serving on multiple museum boards, including M+ in Hong Kong, Tate, and The Guggenheim.
Alan’s journey began at Oxford University, where he honed his analytical prowess, graduating with a Master of Science in Engineering in 1997. Armed with a solid foundation, he embarked on a journey that would see him seamlessly blend the realms of finance and technology.
His tenure at McKinsey & Co marked the inception of his illustrious career, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s Asia Corporate Finance Division in the late 1990s. His strategic acumen and visionary leadership quickly propelled him to the position of Senior Partner, laying the groundwork for his subsequent foray into the digital realm.
As the head of McKinsey Digital for the Asia Pacific region, Alan spearheaded digital transformations that reshaped industries and redefined paradigms. From harnessing the power of AI and Big Data to crafting immersive user experiences, Alan’s contributions were instrumental in guiding organizations through the digital revolution.
But Alan’s ambitions extended beyond the confines of corporate boardrooms. Fuelled by a passion for innovation and a penchant for creativity, he ventured into the world of FinTech, co-founding a startup within Tencent that would eventually burgeon into a billion-dollar enterprise. Under his stewardship, WeSure emerged as a trailblazer in the FinTech insurance landscape, serving over 100 million users and garnering accolades as the top InsurTech company in multiple industry rankings.
Yet, Alan’s pursuits transcend mere business ventures. A fervent patron of the arts, he actively contributes to the cultural landscape, serving as Chairman of ParaSite, the venerable non-profit art space in Hong Kong. His leadership roles at Tate, Guggenheim, and M+ underscore his commitment to fostering artistic expression and cultural exchange on a global scale.
Today, as Chief Business Officer of Animoca Brands, Alan continues to push the boundaries of innovation, steering the company towards the forefront of the blockchain revolution. With investments in transformative projects like The Sandbox and ownership of the iconic Bored Ape Yacht Club, Animoca is poised to redefine the metaverse and reshape the future of digital interaction.
In Alan Lau’s career tapestry, each thread tells a story of resilience, vision, and unwavering dedication. As he continues to orchestrate the convergence of technology, finance, and art, his legacy is proof of the boundless potential of human ingenuity and the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Mocaverse is one of the first projects I took up when I joined Animoca Brands. Working with the vision of Chairman Yat Siu and his open web3 ethos, we debated many versions of what Mocaverse should be and who it should include. We had many safe, cookie-cutter PFP ideas.
