David Webb made his fortune in Hong Kong by weeding out the bad companies from the good on the city鈥檚 stock exchange. By the age of 32, he had earned enough to leave his job and decided that he would start ruffling some feathers in his adopted home.
In the three decades since, Mr. Webb, who moved to the city from his native Britain, has almost single-handedly taken on the rich and powerful in the financial hub, tirelessly campaigning for greater transparency from the city鈥檚 public companies about their ownership and their financial dealings.
The activist investor tussled with tycoons who dominated Hong Kong鈥檚 economy, crossed swords with regulators to fight for the rights of minority shareholders, and lifted the curtain on shadowy business transactions.