AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, marks its 185th anniversary—celebrating a remarkable journey from Hong Kong’s first western pharmacy to a global retail leader. This milestone also highlights a major achievement in its long-running “Give a Smile” campaign with Operation Smile, having surpassed its goal of 10,000 free surgeries for children with cleft conditions ahead of schedule. Building on this momentum, AS Watson has set a new target of 15,000 surgeries by 2030, reaffirming its commitment to creating brighter futures for the next generation.
Reflecting on the company’s legacy, Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, shared her pride in the brand’s growth and purpose-driven journey. She noted that AS Watson’s story is defined not only by expansion, but by the countless smiles it has helped create for customers, colleagues, and communities around the world. She expressed gratitude to the company’s 130,000 colleagues, loyal customers, and partners, emphasizing their shared role in continuing to create smiles—one at a time, for everyone.
From its earliest days, AS Watson has believed that health and happiness should never be a privilege. This philosophy guided its early efforts to provide free medicines to those in need and continues to shape its community-first approach today. That enduring spirit of care inspired the launch of the global “Give a Smile” campaign in 2018, supporting comprehensive cleft care to improve children’s physical and emotional well-being.
Kathy Magee, Operation Smile Co-Founder, President and CEO, highlighted the impact of the partnership, noting that AS Watson’s support has helped close the gap between patients and access to essential care. Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to raising funds, donating, and engaging customers to ensure even more life-changing smiles are created together.
