Scavengers and scratchers of value
Simon Murray arrived in Hong Kong in the mid-1960s, long before there was talk of miracles and meltdowns. Having seen the region transformed from a sleepy backwater to an economic dynamo, Murray is perhaps better able than most investors to keep Asia's current woes in perspective.
As the quintessential old Asia hand, he is also in a position to take advantage of those woes without arousing charges of carpet-bagging and ambulance-chasing - at least that's what he hopes. Murray stepped down earlier this year as chairman of Deutsche Bank Asia-Pacific to set up Gems, a general investment fund focusing exclusively on private equity opportunities in post-crash Asia.
Colourful character
A former member of the French Foreign Legion, Murray, 57, is unquestionably one of the corporate world's more colourful characters. Like many of the young Brits who made their way east at the time, he spent the early part of his career with Jardine Matheson, quickly rising to the post of director.
When legendary Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing took control of the British Hong Hutchison Whampoa in 1984, he hired Murray to serve as his right-hand man.