In 2001, Jeffery Yau established the Hong Kong-based luxury eyewear retailer Puyi Group, at a time when the market for luxury eyewear didn’t exist—so much so that luxury mall landlords were reluctant to give him space. Starting with a single Hong Kong store, the company grew quickly; it now has 900 employees in more than 80 shops across 23 cities in greater China. It also has its own brands including Puyi Optical, Glasstique, Reflections, Point de Vue, Vault, O-O Shop and O-O Vision.

The founder and CEO of Puyi Group has been instrumental in forging collaborations with leading eyewear brands such as Gentle Monster, Chrome Hearts and Gucci, as well as partnering with market leading eye test and optical care company Zeiss. Yau’s first business was as founder and CEO of Europe Watch Company, the Hong Kong retailer for watch brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. He is married to artist and Maret Fine Jewellery founder Margaret, with whom he has two children.