OCBC Bank appoints first female CEO

Helen Wong’s appointment would take effect on 15 April 2021.

OCBC Bank has revealed the appointment of Helen Wong as new group chief executive officer effective on 15 April 2021. Wong would be the bank’s first female CEO.

Wong would succeed Samuel Tsien, who is set to retire on 14 April 2021.

In February 2020, Wong joined OCBC Bank as deputy president and head of global wholesale banking. Since then, she had co-led the Transform for Future task force which reviewed and redefined OCBC Group’s strategy and operating model. To complement the group’s sustainability efforts, Wong also pioneered a new Sustainability Taskforce.

“Although COVID-19 struck fiercely at the economy and impacted many lives and livelihoods, we navigated the storm deftly thanks to Sam’s leadership, the team’s united efforts and the board’s guidance,” Wong commented. “The team and I will now continue to build on OCBC’s strong foundations to further entrench it as a leading and progressive regional financial institution.”