Maël Vastine

Maël Vastine joined Classified Group as chief operating officer at a critical time – during February 2020 when the coronavirus outbreak first started. For many, it may be seen as a low-point, but Vastine sees a silver lining in the sense that he is able to lead Classified Group through the tough times and offer Hong Kong comfort food in this climate. Under his leadership, Classified Group has been able to flourish despite difficult circumstances. “The pandemic is pushing us to think and work differently,” Vastine says. “We have to make sure we’re able to adapt by pivoting our business strategy and the way we do business.” He finds his biggest inspiration in the founders of Classified Group, Paulo Pong and Arnold Wong, who saw this period as an opportunity to think outside the box when it came to Classified Group. When asked for one piece of advice on operating a restaurant in Hong Kong, Vastine says: “Find a good landlord first, then surround yourself with passionate people.”