TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The P. LEAGUE+ (PLG) announced a restructuring plan on Monday (Nov. 6), which aims to transition the league into a new era under an association system.
To lead this change, Richard Chang, a respected basketball figure from Taiwan, has been named as the inaugural president. Chang will replace Charles "Blackie" Chen, the former PLG CEO who resigned following allegations of sexual harassment.
Chang, who has a rich background in national player experience and commercial governance, is highly anticipated to elevate the league to a new level with his exceptional business acumen and management style.
The PLG hopes that his leadership will further boost the development of the league and basketball in Taiwan.
Chang has a remarkable history in basketball. He grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and received an NCAA scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1982 to 1986.
In Taiwan, he played for McDonald's, the predecessor of the Chinese Basketball Alliance's Hung Kuo Elephants. Later, he played for the Chinese Taipei men's national basketball team in the 1980s, participating in the William Jones Cups in 1985 and the FIBA Asia Championship in 1987.
Following his career as a basketball player, Chang transitioned to a corporate role, working for over 30 years at Costco Wholesale Inc. He is the president of Costco's Asian division, overseeing its 70 Asian outlets and 29,000 staff across Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China. His leadership has resulted in the smooth operation of Costco's e-commerce platforms in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Chang expressed his anticipation for the challenges brought about by the 2023-24 PLG season and looks forward to leading the league into a bright future.