Mark Hedges Takes Over as Digital Platforms Director at HKJC After a Career at HSBC

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has appointed Mark Hedges, a veteran of HSBC, as its new Digital Platforms Director in a strategic move aimed at consolidating its technological investment and competitive positioning. Hedges, with 22 years of experience at HSBC, joins after leading the bank's global digital transformation and will oversee platform development at an entity that recently reported a record revenue from betting and lotteries of HK$331.7 billion (approximately £31.3 billion) for the 12 months ending in June, a 3.6% increase over the previous year.

Appointment at HKJC: Focus on Digital Transformation

Mark Hedges began his career at HSBC in 2004 as an intern and rose through various managerial roles. From 2015 to 2018, he led the Retail Banking and Wealth Management (RBWM) transformation program, overseeing relevant initiatives in Asia from 2018 to 2022 as the Business Transformation Head. Four years before joining the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he assumed the role of Global Digital Platforms Director at the bank, a key position for the digitalization of financial services. His hiring coincides with other relevant digital profiles in the organization, where Birgitta Tam serves as Head of Digital Experience and Innovation and Gary Delooze as Chief Information Officer.

"I was attracted to the club's distinctive role: a cornerstone of Hong Kong society, a world-class sports and entertainment organization, and one of the leading global charitable donors. This is a unique opportunity to shape digital experiences at the intersection of sport, entertainment, and technology," wrote Hedges on LinkedIn.

Technological Investments and Growth in Betting: HKJC's Current Strategy

The latest results report from the Hong Kong Jockey Club underscores the importance of technological investment and details the launch of a new platform for sports betting. According to management, this development responds to plans to launch legal basketball betting for the local market, although the rollout has been postponed by government decision.

HKJC management has emphasized that the migration process will be gradual, operating both platforms in parallel before achieving full transition and capitalizing on both the revenue increase and the reduction of operational costs. These technological improvements are expected to allow the organization to compete effectively against the illegal market and provide greater agility to the organization.

Renewed Management Structure: Key New Appointments at the Hong Kong Jockey Club

In addition to the arrival of Mark Hedges, over the past year the club has strengthened its management team with several strategic appointments. In June, Jon Knapman, former Commercial Director of UK Tote Group, joined as Head of International Betting Integration. Last October, a former executive from Manchester United came on board as Executive Director of Sports Business, expanding the team's international expertise.

In the field of innovation and entertainment, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced in 2025 its goal of becoming a global sports and entertainment brand through a partnership with B2B provider XIX Entertainment. Subsequently, they appointed a Transformation Director to lead that strategy and tailor offerings to new segments, including youth, audiences in mainland China, and international markets.

The Digitalization Challenge in Asia's Betting and Lottery Sector

Digital evolution is one of the key challenges for Asian betting and lottery operators, especially in markets with dynamic regulations like Hong Kong. Strengthening the Hong Kong Jockey Club's technological and management team illustrates a trend toward professionalization and investment in digital transformation in the sector. The continuity of investments in advanced platforms evidences the goal of maintaining competitive advantages and responding to compliance and competition challenges both in the legal environment and against unauthorized operators.