OCBC CEO Helen Wong to retire on Dec 31; Tan Teck Long named successor
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OCBC CEO Helen Wong will be succeeded by Mr Tan Teck Long, who will assume the role on Jan 1, 2026.
PHOTOS: THE BUSINESS TIMES, OCBC
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- OCBC Bank CEO Helen Wong will retire on Dec 31, citing family reasons.
- Mr Tan Teck Long, head of global wholesale banking, will succeed Ms Wong from Jan 1, 2026.
- Mr Tan, a banking veteran of more than 30 years, was chief risk officer at DBS Bank before joining OCBC Bank.
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SINGAPORE - OCBC Bank’s group chief executive Helen Wong will be retiring on Dec 31, the bank announced in a bourse filing on July 11.
She will be succeeded by Mr Tan Teck Long, who will assume the role on Jan 1, 2026.
For a smooth transition over the next six months, Mr Tan, who has been head of global wholesale banking since March 2022, will assume the additional role of deputy CEO with immediate effect, OCBC said.
Ms Wong, 64, will remain the chairwoman of OCBC China and a director of OCBC Hong Kong post-retirement.
She had said in 2024 that she wanted to retire for family reasons. Her family is based in Hong Kong.
Before joining OCBC in 2022, Mr Tan, a veteran with more than 30 years of banking experience, was the group chief risk officer at DBS Bank.
Since May, Mr Tan, 55, has been chairing the OCBC strategic resilience group, which aims to calibrate the bank’s position in a changing global world, strengthen its resilience and improve the long-term sustainability of its businesses.
“Under Mr Tan’s leadership in the three years, the global wholesale banking division achieved a compound annual growth rate of about 20 per cent in total income and 25 per cent in net profit,” OCBC said.
He built the technology, media and telecommunications industry specialist teams in China and Singapore, more than doubling revenue in three years, OCBC added.
He also set out the bank’s net-zero carbon emission targets
On his predecessor, Mr Tan said: “Helen has laid down a firm foundation and I will be privileged to build on that.
“In many respects, a new season has begun for the world economy, but the One OCBC Group approach Helen has led us in championing will remain strategically critical to capturing opportunities amid expanding Asean-Greater China connectivity.”
The One Group approach refers to the bank’s strategy of using the combined strength of the group’s banking, wealth management, insurance and asset management franchise to pursue growth across Asean and Greater China.
Mr Andrew Lee, chairman of OCBC Group’s board of directors, said Mr Tan was chosen “after a rigorous global search”.
“He has demonstrated sterling leadership that goes beyond growing the wholesale banking business; as chair of the OCBC strategic resilience group, he has shown the ability to zero in on the critical issues, be forward-thinking and act decisively,” Mr Lee said.
He also thanked Ms Wong for her contributions to OCBC.
Ms Wong joined the bank in 2020 as deputy president and head of global wholesale banking, before becoming group CEO in April 2021.
OCBC said that since taking the helm, Ms Wong has achieved record profits for three consecutive years.
Ms Wong said: “It has been a rewarding journey to lead OCBC, with its rich history and heritage. Playing a part in its transformation towards ever greater strength and resilience has been especially fulfilling.”
She added that she is pleased to hand over the baton to Mr Tan.
“His bold leadership style, immense sense of responsibility and vision coupled with grit will steer OCBC confidently into the future,” she said.
“The synergies of our unique banking, wealth management, insurance and asset management franchise will be further maximised under his leadership.”
