This is a tough time to be looking for such a person, said Maris Martinsons, associate professor of management at City University of Hong Kong: "The Chinese economy is booming and lots of other companies are looking for the same profile."
He said Lee Kum Kee was smart to be seeking leadership from the outside, but said there were risks for executives considering the job.
"If the company is not publicly listed, it hasn't been properly vetted by the outside investment community," he said. "There may be skeletons in the family business' closet and that would make the executive think twice before he or she takes the job."
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