KUALA LUMPUR: HSBC now has women making up 40 per cent of its Malaysia executive committee following the appointment of Christina Cheah as Malaysia head of global banking effective from March 1 this year.
Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Christina was head of large local corporates for global banking in Malaysia until the fourth quarter of 2020, when she was appointed acting head of global banking for Malaysia.
HSBC said her appointment reflected its desire to promote local talent as well as commitment in nurturing and growing more women leaders in Malaysia.
"We at HSBC are very focused on building and developing local talent, and so we are delighted to have Christina as the new head of global banking, Malaysia," HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Stuart Milne said in a statement today.
"We at HSBC are very focused on building and developing local talent, and so we are delighted to have Christina as the new head of global banking, Malaysia. With Christina's appointment, more than 40 per cent of our Malaysia Executive Committee are women.
"We believe that a diverse top leadership team is essential to delivering for our customers. It is also a happy coincidence that Christina's appointment is taking place just before International Women's Day on March 8 2021," Milne added.
He said with her extensive experience and deep understanding of the Malaysian market, HSBC was confident that Cheah would lead the growth of its global banking franchise here.
"Malaysia is a strategically important market for HSBC and we will continue to invest for growth," he added.
Cheah, who joined HSBC in 2013 and has close to 20 years of experience in financial services, is a key member of HSBC's leadership team in Malaysia and has led many of the bank's long-established client relationships.
She has a passion for HSBC's Sustainability agenda, working with colleagues and clients towards a net zero carbon emissions future.
"She has actively led a number of diversity and inclusion and talent development programmes, including mentorship initiatives for HSBC's Malaysian talent pool and coaching for graduates in HSBC Global Banking, Asia Pacific," the bank said.
A graduate of University of London, Cheah is married with two children and has a passion for travelling and experiencing different cultures with her family.