In 1949, Mr Tsao started out with a small trading business, went on to buy his first ship and co-founded the Great Southern Steamship Co. Ltd.. In 1966, he founded International Maritime Carriers Ltd. (IMC) in Hong Kong, a shipping company which eventually grew into a substantial enterprise with ships transporting a wide range of commodities worldwide.

Born in Shanghai in 1925 and a graduate of Shanghai’s St. John’s University, Mr Tsao remains in close touch with his Chinese roots and is actively involved in developments in China. In 2007, the Dalian Provincial Government awarded him the title of “Honorary Citizen” in recognition of his support to its economy.

Throughout his career, Mr Tsao has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth of the maritime industry and in promoting maritime education and research. In 1968, he joined with the Malaysian Government to help establish her first national shipping line – the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Bhd. In 1973, His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Bahasa Malaysia term for “King”) of Malaysia conferred upon Mr Tsao the title of “Tan Sri” in recognition of his many contributions to the country, including the assistance he provided and his capital participation in establishing Malaysia’s first shipyard, her first seamen’s training institute and modernisation of her maritime legal framework.

In 2005, Mr Tsao helped establish the Centre for Maritime Studies at the National University of Singapore and sits on the Board of Directors as Chairman, and played a key role in the setting up of the permanent secretariat of Asian Shipowners Forum in Singapore in 2007.

He is also the first Asian recipient of the Commodore Award (Lifetime Award) from the Connecticut Maritime Association of the US in 2002. His important contributions to the maritime industry also won him other awards such as “Personality of the Year” by Lloyds Maritime Asia in 1999 and the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Born in 1957, Mr Frederick Chavalit Tsao joined the family business as an engineering trainee after graduating from the University of Michigan.

Mr Tsao was instrumental in the privatisation and successful turn-around of United Thai Shipping Corporation Ltd., Thailand’s National Shipping Line, and the subsequent listing of the company, under the name of Unithai Line Public Co. Ltd., on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

In 1989, Mr Tsao became the Managing Director of IMC Holdings Ltd.

In 1995, Mr Tsao took over the helm of the IMC Group of Companies from his father, and following a restructuring process, IMC Pan Asia Alliance (IMC PAA) was formed. Under his stewardship, the company has transformed from a traditional shipping company to one that integrates shipping with logistics services and solutions, as well as diversified from maritime interests to include investments, lifestyle/real estate and community development.

Mr Tsao is also actively involved in organisations that develop interests beneficial to and essential for the well-being of the maritime industry. He sits on the board of Intercargo, an international organisation based in London, which represents a third of the dry cargo shipowners in the world and was its chairman from 1999 to 2004. He also speaks regularly at international forums.

Mr Tsao firmly believes that leadership should be founded on fundamental values and philosophies with a world view. Tradition and cultural values need to be carefully integrated with social developments associated with globalisation to achieve stability and harmony. With these guiding principles, Mr Tsao created, in 1995, the East West Cultural Development Centre, a non-profit organization aimed at building more harmonious relationships in a rapidly globalized world. The centre organises round-table discussions, seminars, cultural and sports programmes for schools as well as the corporate sector.