As the Asia-focused bank continues to increase its investment across the region, HSBC Hong Kong has named veteran banker Luanne Lim as its new Chief Executive, effective immediately. Luanne was designated interim chief executive in September after serving as the Hong Kong business’s chief operating officer since 2017. She succeeded Louisa Cheang as executive director and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank in September 2021, when Diana Cesar, HSBC’s former group general manager and chief executive, Hong Kong, stepped down.
“I am honoured by this tremendous opportunity to lead HSBC in Hong Kong. This is an exceptional time to be part of HSBC as we accelerate our investment in Asia. We are an integral part of Hong Kong and are committed to supporting our communities and the businesses that are their lifeblood,” she said. She also mentioned that she is looking forward to working with the team and that they will work together to develop a legacy of trust, honesty, and internationalism that will help HSBC become the bank of the future.
HSBC said Luanne implemented major innovation and efficiency programmes throughout her career as Hong Kong’s chief operating officer, demonstrating her great grasp of the bank’s clients and employees. Lim has been in the banking profession for more than 25 years. She also has held senior positions and led strategic growth efforts in a variety of Asian regions, including Hong Kong, mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, since joining the bank in Singapore in 1999.
“Luanne was the standout candidate for this role. Over the last six months, she has demonstrated a combination of natural leadership with a deep understanding of both the industry and how HSBC’s global aspirations fit within it. Her proven energy and skill in delivering results that support our commercial and operational goals is what we need as we continue to transform to meet the opportunities for growth here in Hong Kong and beyond,” said David Liao, co-chief executive of HSBC Asia Pacific.
Over the next five years, HSBC plans to invest more than $6 billion in Asia, according to the bank. It will concentrate on expanding wealth management and wholesale banking activities, as well as leveraging the rise of the Asian middle class and funding the transition to a low-carbon economy.
