Beijing's 20 Most Interesting People: Jade Gray
We have a saying here at the Beijinger that even if nothing interesting could be written about 99 percent of Beijing's approximately 20 million people, there would still be 200,000 great stories remaining. To us, what makes a person interesting was not only their long-term presence in Beijing, but that they had done something of note within the last 12 months. Here is one of our picks, and you can always find more in our October issue, now out on the stands.
Jade Gray
Co-Founder, Gung Ho Ventures
Years in Beijing: 17
Why he’s interesting: Jade – that’s his real name – got his start in Beijing in Wudaokou with a failing fitness center. He later moved into food and beverage with Haidian institution Lush, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year (see our feature on pg.), then Pyro Pizza. He then wanted to “move downtown,” starting Gung Ho! Pizza. Along the way, Jade has developed a reputation for lavishing his employees with benefits in a market segment usually low on respect and wages. “If I want my staff to provide exceptional service to my customers, then I have to provide exceptional service to them,” he said.
What he says: “China taught me the joy of sharing food, that’s why I chose pizza. As for why I love Beijing, it is without a doubt the people, both local and foreign, and to be immersed in a fascinating culture.”
Photo: Sui
