George T. Yang

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George T. Yang
Born (1938-09-12) September 12, 1938 (age 85)
Tondo, Manila, Philippine Commonwealth
EducationDe La Salle University (B.A.)
Wharton School of Finance (M.B.A.)
Occupation(s)Businessman, singer
SpouseKristine Yang
Children4
Musical career
GenresClassical, Opera
OccupationsBusinessman, diplomat, investor, singer
LabelsUniversal Records
Member ofKlassikal Music Foundation

George T. Yang is a Filipino businessman, investor, singer, and former diplomat who owns the master franchise of McDonald's in the Philippines through Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC). He is the founder of McDonald's Philippines through the company GADC and opened the first branch in Morayta in 1981, then in Cubao before expanding to 700 branches nationwide.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

George T. Yang was born on September 12, 1938[2][3] in Tondo, Manila.[4] He is the eldest among two sons and daughter[4] of Yang Ing Kuong.[5]

George's grandfather was an immigrant from China who would establish the United Insurance firm in the Philippines.[5]

He also had a passion for singing since he was 12 years old but would only pursue a serious career in singing much later in life.[6] Although coming from a Chinese family, him pursuing a career in singing was discouraged.[4]

Yang attended the De La Salle University where he obtained his undergraduate degree.[7] He also went to the United States to study at Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Master's in Business Administration.[8][9]

Business career[edit]

Prior to McDonald's[edit]

Upon returning to the United States, Yang worked as an employee for two years. He worked as marketing manager for Bataan Cigarette Company while simultaneously serving as a consultant for Chinese companies in Binondo and teaching night school at the De La Salle University.[4]

He also helped his wife set up Kristine Jewelry, a jewelry company.[10]

McDonald's[edit]

In the 1970s, Yang looked to introduce the famed American hamburger franchise McDonald's across the Philippines. In 1974, he contacted McDonald's headquarters in Illinois regarding a proposal for obtaining the franchising rights to open various outlets in the Philippines. Yang's proposals were initially ignored, though he continued to remind the company regarding his business interest. In 1976, representatives of McDonald's International sent a delegation to the Philippines to conduct a feasibility study on establishing presence in the Philippine market.[11]

McDonald's International was also considering partnering with other local firms in establishing presence in the Philippines' other than Yang. Yang sold himself as a "long term partner" and volunteered to work in British Hong Kong where he networked with the business associate of the holder of the master franchise in the city and worked with uniformed crew at an outlet in Kowloon. In 1980, McDonald's decided to award the master franchise to Yang and, shortly thereafter, set up the first Philippine McDonald's in Sampaloc, Manila the following year.[11][12]

Yang's company which would manage the master franchise is named Golden Arches Development Corporation.

His son Kenneth, would be appointed as managing director in 2003.[4] Kenneth would eventually become Golden Arches' president and CEO.

Other ventures[edit]

Aside from McDonald's Philippines, Yang also leads other companies including First Georgetown Ventures, HAVI Food Services (Philippines) and GEC Land Development Corp.[13]

Diplomatic career[edit]

Yang has also served as an honorary consul general to Eritrea.[10][14] He was also elected as dean of the Consular Corps of the Philippines (CCP) in 2014.[15]

Music career[edit]

Yang is also a singer with classical and opera music as his main genre. He is signed under Universal Records.[13]

He had formal training at an old age.[16] He trained with Rachelle Gerodias, Raul Sunico, Raul Navarro, Lily Monteverde, and Gerard Salonga.[2] Yang decided to return to his childhood past time of singing after being forced to take part at a karaoke session with guests at a bar in the late 1990s.[4]

Jose Mari Chan, who was also his friend, convinced him to release his first CD, "Yang at Heart" in 2002.[4] The album was followed by "Forever Yang", and "The Night is Yang". He also did collaborative performances with Chan.[2]

He also did pop songs for McDonalds's television commercials and did acting roles in musicals.[16]

He also founded the Klassikal Music Foundation in 2007 which provided classical music education to youth who could not afford to pursue a college degree in music.[17][18][19][20][13]

Awards and honors[edit]

His alma mater, De La Salle University and the José Rizal University has conferred him with honorary doctorate degrees.[19]

Personal life[edit]

George Yang is married to Kristine Yang with whom he has three sons and a daughter.[19]

Discography[edit]

  • "Yang at Heart" (2002)
  • "Forever Yang"
  • "The Night is Yang"
  • "Always Yang" (2007)[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "George T. Yang, the man behind the Golden Arches in the Philippines". September 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Custodio, Arlo (September 11, 2021). "The singing tycoon is an iconic man in leadership". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "As told by George T. Yang: lessons from a business tycoon". Business World. December 10, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "With The Son Running The Show, Dad Can Sing- And Stay Forever Yang". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 7, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Flores, Wilson Lee (December 4, 2011). "George Yang's success tip: Be honest,persevere and work really hard". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Hila, Antonio C. (February 4, 2013). "McDo's George Yang: Singing his way to business success–literally". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Berjaya Philippines Inc. | George T. Yang". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Vergara, Mary Elizabeth (September 11, 2021). "Lessons from a visionary tycoon". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Sering, Tara FT (December 4, 2011). "The journey of George Yang". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Enriquez, Marge (October 10, 2012). "George Yang: 'I'm known as the McDonald's guy'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Matejowsky, Ty (December 20, 2017). "Of Burges and Bees : McGeorge Yang". Fast Food Globalization in the Provincial Philippines. Lexington Books. pp. 35–41. ISBN 978-0739139905. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Dr. George T. Yang: Powering the Golden Arches since 1981". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 12, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Abunda, Boy (December 10, 2017). "The music on George Yang's mind". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  14. ^ Mananquil, Millet M. (April 24, 2021). "What is the best thing that happened to us during the pandemic?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "McDonald's George Yang awards outgoing Consul Steven Chapman". The Philippine Star. March 3, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Regalado, Cherrie (September 6, 2019). "McDonald's Big Cheese George Yang Talks About That Ad With Jose Mari Chan". Esquire. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "McDonald's PH founder honored by JRU". ABS-CBN News. September 29, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Lo, Ricky (November 17, 2018). "By George, he nailed it!". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Lo, Ricky (September 9, 2017). "Yang at heart". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "George Yang presents 'Klassikal' scholars anew". The Manila Times. October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  21. ^ Liabres, Aprylle (December 10, 2007). "The singing tycoon". Khaleej Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
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