Zhou Sara

I help organizations navigate complex transformations by building robust HR operating models and workforce strategies. With deep expertise in the APAC region with a focus in HK and Mainland China, I specialize in:

Deputy Executive Manager, HR Business Facing at The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) (2023-04 – Present)

Large-Scale and Highly Regulated Environment Strategic HR Advisory and Transformation Project Management Office Role | Reimage End to End HR Operating Model to Enable HKJC Mainland China Business Expansion

• Engineered the end-to-end HR Operating Model for HKJC’s third Racecourse - GZ Conghua Racecourse, integrating organization design, talent gap and talent mapping, workforce strategy and planning, talent mobility, change management, executives and contingency staff recruitment, operational capability architect, training readiness, job grading and pay grading and benefit, HR systems, and staff journey into one cohesive, scalable framework.
• Designed the staffing model and workforce plan to enable 5-year business maturity and breakeven
• Mobilized 800 HK and 700 GZ full-time employees, recruited for 200 core mainland operations teams, and provided solutions for a 3,000+ multi-site contingency staff to support large-scale event operations
• Established job architecture, job grade and pay structure
• Created project leadership R&R and KPI governance, building performance management framework that aligned cross-functional delivery teams and ensured disciplined execution for Mainland China business launch.
• Built cross-border capability architecture enabling Hong Kong and Conghua to operate with integrated dual-site operational processes.
• Identified critical talent gaps and led organisation change management across racecourse operations, IT, broadcasting, marketing, facility management, security, hospitality services, and corporate services functions to build Mainland-ready operational capability.
• Established cross-border regulatory compliance framework covering Mainland and Hong Kong income tax, employment eligibility, statutory certification, and talent mobility — safeguarding HKJC’s regulatory integrity during Mainland expansion.

Director, HR Business Partner at Crypto.com (2021-11 – 2023-03)

Global FinTech (5,000+ employees) | Hyper-Growth, High-Change Environment | Global HRBP and HR Operations Leadership for Technology and Trading Client Group | Acquisition Projects People Integration

• Scaled global workforce to 5,000+ with 70% hyper-growth and 20% optimisation, stabilising Technology and Trading functions, covered HRBP and HR operation for HK, China, TW, Korea, and Singapore offices
• Led organisation design, performance management, and leadership alignment, creating structural clarity and leadership cohesion
• Built the global job architecture for technology team, designing the job grading framework and implementation guidelines that became the foundation for consistent role definition, career progression, and compensation governance across all regions.
• Designed and implemented the company’s Long-Term Incentive (LTI) programme, establishing a scalable, competitive reward mechanism that strengthened retention for critical technology and trading talent during hyper-growth.
• Created the global people mobility model, enabling cross-border talent deployment and building a sustainable global talent pipeline that supported rapid product expansion and capability scaling.
• Led global acquisition and post-acquisition people integration, ensuring organisational continuity, cultural alignment, and talent retention across multiple markets

Senior HR Manager at Furrion Limited (2020-03 – 2021-11)

Electronics Product & Engineering and Supply Chain Start-Up | Regional HR Leadership

• Led HR team for Asia across HK, China, and Vietnam, overseeing full HR operations.
• Drove restructuring, leadership transitions, and acquisition support.
• Delivered HRMS project and policy transformation with zero legal disputes during COVID time

HR Director at Ecoprint Cloud Technology (2017-03 – 2020-03)

B2B eCommerce Start-up | HR Leadership | Build-from-Scratch

• Overseed HR operations for HK and China and built HR function from ground up across HK and China.
• Recruited the whole start up team including software engineers, business development team, on-line operations team and supporting functions
• Designed compensation and performance systems aligned with business growth for business development team and online operations team
• Implemented retention strategies including stock option programmes

HR Manager at IKEA Trading Greater China (2011-04 – 2016-11)

Global Sourcing and Supply Chain | HR Generalist | Greater China HR Operations Role

• Led HR operations in supporting supply chain and product development teams across Greater China region.
• Provide consultation to Asia HR shared services setup to improve efficiency

HR Business Partner at Microsoft Asia Centre (2008-04 – 2011-04)

Global Hardware Product and Engineering and Supply Chain | Regional HR Leadership

• Supported growth from ~20 to 100 employees and built talent pipeline for the Asia Hardware Developing Centre (70% conversion from vendor pool)
• Implement the full cycle of talent management process include defining job scope, selection criteria, onboarding programs, talent identification, leadership development programs, leadership forum and local leadership programs, promotions, performance management and annual cycle for salary review and year end bonus.

HR Generalist at Agfa China (2003-04 – 2008-04)

Global MNC Sales and Engineering and Supply Chain

• Progressed from HR Administrator to HR Manager, managed recruitment and HR operations

Family business (1996-07 – 2001-04)

Worked on my family business

MSc in Counselling – City University of Hong Kong (2016-07 – 2017-07)

MBA – Griffith University, Australia (2001-07 – 2003-04)

Diploma in Accounting – Dongbei University of Finance & Economics (1994-07 – 1996-06)