OCBC Bank has named Helen Wong as its new group CEO, replacing Samuel Tsien who has been at the helm since 15 April 2012.

This makes OCBC the first female CEO of a Singaporean bank.

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Wong will assume the new responsibility on 15 April 2021, a day after Tsien’s retirement.

In 1984, Wong started her financial endeavour at OCBC and has been its first China desk manager.

Last year, she rejoined the bank as the deputy president and head of Global Wholesale Banking.

She has been integral in co-heading the Transform for Future taskforce to redefine the OCBC operating model.

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She was also in charge of a new Sustainability Taskforce to complement OCBC’s sustainability initiatives.

Her 35-long financial career also includes a stint at HSBC, where she latterly was the chief of HSBC Greater China.

Meanwhile, Tsien has been working at OCBC since July 2007 and previously served as its global head of Global Corporate Bank.

OCBC chairman Ooi Sang Kuang said: “We had looked at candidates internally in OCBC, and within and outside Singapore before we agreed on Helen as the best qualified person. Helen’s experiences and expertise extend beyond corporate banking, Greater China and North Asia.

“She also ran a large banking operation of a global bank as the Chief Executive of Greater China, including Hong Kong, prior to joining OCBC.”

Commenting on Tsien, Ooi stated: “In his nine years as the Group CEO, Sam has significantly built the OCBC franchise into a much more diversified and resilient business.

“He has strengthened the risk culture and internal processes, and instilled a set of solid corporate values to guide the team in doing business in a sustainable way.”

In February 2020, Bank of Singapore, the private banking arm of OCBC Bank, hired Joanna Ho from HSBC Private Banking to serve as the head of wealth planning for its Greater China and North Asia operations.