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Business Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Andrew Li and Germaine Tan: Love at first beat
AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS NEWLY engaged couple run on different frequencies. He's Andrew Li, the ambitious CEO behind Zouk Group's global rise as a lifestyle conglomerate – from velvet-rope nightclubs in four cities, to popular burger joints and bistros. She's Germaine Leonora Tan, a radio DJ by night and content creator by day, with a combined social following of over 200,000. She also happens to be the daughter of Hao Mart founder Tan Kim Yong. One builds profit-and-loss forecasts and expansion playbooks; the other curates playlists and hosts live events. One strategises across time zones; the other reaches into thousands of homes through the evening airwaves. But when they first met at cocktail bar Here Kitty Kitty in 2022 and stepped onto the dance floor, it was – quite literally – love at first beat. A shared sense of rhythm, both physical and emotional, sparked something neither had expected. 'He could dance,' Tan says, grinning. 'And rhythm is important to me. Not many guys have it. But he did.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'She had this energy,' Li recalls. 'Yes, she's beautiful – but it was the way she moved. The joy, the spontaneity. That's what pulled me in.' Later, when she posted a clip from the night on Instagram, he sent her his first text: 'Help me tag Here Kitty Kitty.' (The cocktail bar belongs to Zouk.) 'Typical businessman,' Tan says, laughing. 'Didn't even say hello. Just wanted brand visibility.' Still, something in the way they moved – his quiet swagger, her magnetic energy – drew them together like a song they couldn't resist playing on repeat. They started dating, and were quietly surprised by how naturally their lives began to sync. Germaine Tan wears a doll dress by Max Mara; and Force 10 Rise earrings and necklace by Fred. Andrew Li wears a singlet, blazer and trousers by Dolce & Gabbana; and Force 10 Winch small and large pendants necklace by Fred. PHOTO: DARREN GABRIEL LEOW Nightlife was just the beginning Before they met, they had danced to the beat of their own careers, not realising how closely their professional paths would one day intertwine. London-born hospitality executive Li had joined Zouk Group in 2015 – the same year that Tan started her career as a DJ. Back then, Zouk was a beloved Singapore brand with global ambition but modest infrastructure. Under Li's leadership, it transformed into a multi-venue, multi-market lifestyle portfolio spanning nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and fast-casual brands in four countries. Zouk Las Vegas helped the brand break into the American market. Zouk Tokyo is tapping into Japan's reserved nightlife culture. The pivot into food and beverage – brands such as Five Guys, The Plump Frenchman and Korio – reflects both strategic diversification and Li's instinct for scalable, sticky experiences. 'I came into this role to expand the group,' he says. 'I didn't come here to operate just one nightclub. Now I need to see that growth year on year – but also make sure the business is sustainable and profitable. That gives me the ammunition to keep building.' His toughest leadership test came during and after Covid-19, when he had to manage venue closures, layoffs, and high DJ fees in an inflationary US market. The experience taught him to 'take emotion out of the decision-making process – while staying empathetic to the people working with you'. Today, the company is trialling a new Zouk app that serves as a customer relationship management and loyalty platform, capturing real-time data on guests' preferences, behaviour and spend. 'We have thousands of people coming through on a weekend night,' he says. 'We can get insights to help shape everything from bookings to brand partnerships.' Where older perceptions of Zouk Singapore hinged on DJs and velvet ropes, Li's version of the brand is broader: a lifestyle ecosystem that's as much about burgers and bistros as it is about bass lines. 'We're not just a nightclub anymore,' he says. 'We're a diversified lifestyle business.' Germaine Tan wears a short dress and sandals by Louis Vuitton. Andrew Li wears a shirt, suit and shoes by Louis Vuitton; and a Force 10 Winch ring and small and large pendants necklace by Fred. PHOTO: DARREN GABRIEL LEOW From supermarket to studio mic While Li, 42, is in his second act as a business leader, Tan, 29, describes herself as 'still building' her foundations. As the Hao Mart scion, she spent five formative years in the family business. By the age of 28, she had risen to marketing director, leading big campaigns, managing teams, and getting a hands-on education in corporate realities. 'It taught me a lot,' she says. 'Especially about people – managing personalities, handling pushback, learning when to push and when to let go.' In 2024, she left the position – not out of conflict, but clarity. Retail had taught her discipline. But radio was her first love. She had been DJing since her student years at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where she ran the campus station. After graduation, she landed a role at Class 95 FM as a producer and part-time presenter. In 2019, she joined 987FM, while simultaneously working for Hao Mart. 'My parents never pressured me to stay in the family business,' she says. 'They were supportive even when I eventually chose radio over the business. I just knew I wanted something that was mine.' That independence extended beyond the airwaves. She grew her presence online, hosting brand campaigns and sharing food and travel stories with a growing digital audience. Germaine Tan wears an evening dress by Brunello Cucinelli; and Destinee diamond and white gold ring, Etoile necklace and Etoile bangle by Lee Hwa Jewellery. Andrew Li wears a knitted top and trousers by Zegna; and Italgold Aurion Horizon necklace and ring by Lee Hwa Jewellery. PHOTO: DARREN GABRIEL LEOW Winning over their families What started as chemistry on the dance floor soon distilled into something more substantial – based not just on attraction, but a willingness to adapt and understand each other's worlds. 'He has incredible discipline,' she says. 'He can compartmentalise stress, stay calm in chaos. I'm still learning that.' For Tan, dates matter – birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, even the day they first met. 'She would ask: 'When's our anniversary?' And I would panic because I don't remember,' Li says. 'I had to learn that what's important to her has to become important to me.' Their families quickly embraced the relationship. Li brought Tan to his 40th birthday retreat just weeks into dating – a full immersion into his extended family. 'She was incredible,' he says. 'My nephew still says she's his favourite aunt.' Tan's father, a passionate entrepreneur himself, took to Li immediately. 'My dad loves him!' she says with a laugh. 'At dinners, he always wants Andrew to sit beside him – not me. They talk business, markets, everything. He told me: 'I can see he takes care of you. That's all I need to know.'' If their relationship began with chemistry and curiosity, it has now matured into something more architectural – layered, intentional and shaped by effort. They talk often about the life they want to create together. Not just a home or a family, but a balanced existence where work, wellness and joy can co-exist. 'We plan everything,' Li says. 'We talk about the future all the time – not in abstract terms, but practically. Where we want to live. How we want to raise kids. Our long-term goals.' Visions and vows Several years ago, Li began working with executive coach Alex Butt, a former Microsoft managing director who also spent time as a monk. The sessions, he says, helped him navigate some of his toughest leadership decisions with more clarity and emotional intelligence. Watching the impact Butt had on Li, Tan decided to work with him too – not just to manage stress, but to sharpen her own sense of professional purpose. 'He helped me reframe how I think about ambition,' she says. 'It's not just about chasing financial growth. It's about aligning your work with what truly matters.' They speak candidly about starting a family. Tan jokes that Li is more enthusiastic about having kids than she is. What do they want: girls or boys? 'Girls,' Li answers without hesitation. 'I grew up with only brothers – I want more women in my life. I want to raise daughters who are strong, self-aware, and know their worth.' Tan is more measured. 'Motherhood is something I want. But I'm realistic about what that means for my career. It's not a setback – but it is a choice. And I want to make that choice on my own terms.' Their wedding is set for mid-2026 in Phuket, with just close friends and family. Despite public expectations of a high-society blowout, they're keeping it low-key. 'Everyone thinks we're throwing some 500-person wedding,' Tan says, laughing. 'But we want something small and intimate. Joyful, but grounded.' She hasn't chosen a dress yet. He still forgets which anniversary counts as the 'real one'. But what they do know is this: they've already chosen each other. Everything else – from playlists to place cards to prenups – is just part of the dance. Photography: Darren Gabriel Leow Fashion direction: CK Grooming: Grego Oh, using Chanel Beauty and Revlon Professional Make-up and hair (for Tan): Nicole Ang, using Chanel Beauty and Kevin Murphy Location: Nathan Home at 8 Baker Street
Vogue Singapore
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Good catch! Vogue's edit of marine-inspired sea jewellery
The sea is big in jewellery right now. We can look easily to several collections of high jewellery to see a clutch of designers and jewellers exploring the idea. From Boucheron's categorical expressions of water in various forms to artful interpretations of the sea in art, as Singapore jeweller Simone did with an art nouveau collection inspired by Hokusai. High jewellery creations like those lead the way creatively, but there is certainly also a wealth of alternative options out there. These run the gamut from fine jewels in precious materials, like Tiffany & Co.'s Titan line designed by Pharrell Williams. Set with lustrous black Tahitian pearls and spiked gold designed like the tines of Poseidon's trident, it makes its references graphically and subtly. Fred, a maison that loves the sun and sea, has also built on its sailing cable collection—distilling its signature design elements into glamorous built-in stacks in the Force 10 Rise. Nautical and imbued with the spirit of the sea, yet designed with a modern subtlety that makes it easy to wear. Cute motifs like seashells and little fish, meanwhile, offer an easy way into the trend. A piece in a bigger size makes a fabulous, summery statement which can be paired with daintier everyday jewellery. Goossens, the Parisian maison des métiers d'art that crafts fantasy bijoux for Chanel, has a playful jewelled seashell minaudière out this summer that's as pretty as it is handy. Here, Vogue's edit of jewellery with sea motifs. Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. 1 / 13 Tiffany & Co. Titan by Pharrell Williams ring in rose gold with a Tahitian pearl and diamonds, $14,000 The May 2025 'Sonder' issue of Vogue Singapore is available online and on newsstands. Courtesy of CCWW Designs 2 / 13 CCWW Designs Ammonite earrings in carved aventurine with 14-carat gold and lab-grown diamonds, US$5,015 Courtesy of Dior 3 / 13 Dior Rose des Vents hidden watch in yellow gold with diamonds, price on request Courtesy of Fred 4 / 13 Fred Force 10 Rise ring in pink gold with diamonds, $9,700 Courtesy of Guita M 5 / 13 Guita M GE620 earrings in rose gold with grey mother-of-pearl, grey Tahitian pearls and imperial topaz, US$9,400 Courtesy of Goossens 6 / 13 Goossens Circé minaudière necklace in gold-dipped brass with freshwater pearls, carnelian, turquoise, agate and garnet, US$2,170 Courtesy of Goossens 7 / 13 Goossens Circé shell pendant in gold-dipped brass with a freshwater pearl, US$255 Courtesy of iTÄ 8 / 13 iTÄ Bahía Shell Bead pendant in 14-carat yellow gold with diamonds, $2,150 Courtesy of Brent Neale 9 / 13 Brent Neale Cancer ring in yellow gold with diamonds, US$12,250 Courtesy of Brent Neale 10 / 13 Brent Neale Pisces ring in platinum and yellow gold with diamonds, US$19,850 Courtesy of Misho 11 / 13 Misho Sirena necklace in gold-plated bronze with pearls, $346 Courtesy of Selim Mouzannar 12 / 13 Selim Mouzannar Fish For Love double-sided pendant in pink gold with diamonds, sapphires, spessartines and orange enamel, US$27,470 Courtesy of Mociun 13 / 13 Mociun fish charm in 14-carat gold, price on request
