The Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Appoints Sophia Xie to be Executive Chairman of Hong Kong and Macau Region

Rachael Fisher, Joey Zhou, Jacqueline Lewis, Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse), Maxwell Gobbell, Virginie Pichot, and Betty Xie

Los Angeles, California, USA. 18th February, 2024. The Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) appointed Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse) to be the Executive Chairman of Hong Kong and the Macau Region for the LABA Biennial International Art Festival at a ceremony held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. At the same ceremony, artist Jie Geng, who is based in China, was appointed to be the LABA Biennial International Art Festival Overseas Art Envoy. They were both selected for their appointments by the organizing committee for the 2022-2024 LABA Biennial International Art Festival.

Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse is her Chinese name) has a strong background in international finance and business management, and brings many years of experience to the LABA team. She is the vice chairman of the Everbright Fortune (Tianjin) Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd., and was the founder/vice chairman of the Beijing Yansha Friendship Mall, China's first international joint venture department store. Ms. Xie had a cooperative shareholder relationship with Henderson China and H&Q Investment Company in the United States, and was the former consultant for China affairs at Benson Bank in the UK. While working in China, she did consulting work for the former chairman of the US investment bank Morgan Stanley, and worked on the formation of China International Capital Corporation, the first joint venture investment bank in China.

Participating in this appointment ceremony were TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, Jacqueline Lewis, producer at Bionic Buzz, Rachael Fisher, host at Bionic Buzz, Maxwell Gobbell, host at The Beverly Arts, and Virginie Pichot, artist from France.

Producer Jacqueline Lewis and Sophia Xie, Executive Chairman of Hong Kong and Macau Region

Sophia Xie addressed the reporters at the appointment ceremony and stated, "As the Executive Chairman of the LABA Biennial International Arts Festival in Hong Kong and Macau, I look forward to participating in many art activities and projects in Hong Kong and Macau. My financial partner, Mr. Fok Qi-gang, is the Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Arts Bureau, and we look forward to working together to promote the works of artists. I plan to first actively work with the LABA International Art Festival team to complete this year’s biennial work. Then, I plan to promote the international "interaction, mutual visits, exchanges and exhibitions" between Hong Kong, Macau and the artists of the LABA Biennial International Arts Festival. We will also participate in the high-end art activities in major cities in China and abroad, including selected art events in Los Angeles area."

Lastly, "I am very pleased and honored to be appointed as the Executive Chairman of Hong Kong and the Macau Region by the presidium of the LABA Biennial International Art Festival Organizing Committee. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to: Mr. Harrison Engle, Dr. James Daichendt, Princess Karen Cantrell, as well as Oscar winner, Mr. Paul Ottosson and internationally renowned music artist Ms. Karen Han."

Jacqueline Lewis also expressed that she was very honored to present such an important appointment certificate to Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse). Lewis stated, "Ms. Xie has a wonderful background, and I feel that she will definitely make a positive contribution to LABA and the international arts community."

Virginie Pichot, Jacqueline Lewis, Rachael Fisher with artist Jie Geng (iPad) by video conference from China, and Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse)

Rachael Fisher with artist Jie Geng (iPad) by video conference from China

Virginie Pichot, Rachael Fisher with artist JueFu Zhang (iPad) by video conference from China, and Maxwell Gobbell

Maxwell Gobbell, Rachael Fisher with artist Yufen Li (iPad) by video conference from China, and Virginie Pichot

Artists Jie Geng, JueFu Zhang, and Yufen Li, who are participants in the LABA Biennial International Art Festival, attended by video conference from China, and each congratulated Ms. Xie for her appointment as the Executive Chairman of Hong Kong and the Macau Region.

Betty Xie, assistant to Sophia Xie, is interviewed by Maxwell Gobbell

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA and Sophia Xie (Tantan Tse) with her certificate

After the ceremony, Ms. Xie had the opportunity to attend the LA Art Show and enjoy the artwork from artists all over the world.

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by The Beverly Arts Foundation