UOB names Tan Choon Hin to new Asean, Greater China role

UOB has appointed Tan Choon Hin as the new head of its Asean and Greater China operations. Tan, who currently serves as the bank’s deputy chief risk officer, assumes the role from September 1. His responsibilities include overseeing UOB’s regional businesses across seven markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Tan will work closely with country executives and management teams to bolster collaboration and drive cross-border growth opportunities for the lender.

The appointment coincides with UOB’s efforts to deepen ties between its Asean and Greater China franchises, as increasing trade, investment, and wealth flows between the two regions present new opportunities. Tan will also oversee UOB’s foreign direct investment (FDI) advisory unit, which has assisted more than 300 cross-border expansion plans over the past six months, amounting to S$5.6 billion in projected investments.

FDI into Asean has more than doubled over the past decade, despite a global decline in FDI of around 20 percent.

UOB CEO Wee Ee Cheong emphasized Asean’s pivotal role in the bank’s growth strategy and its emergence as a significant global economic hub. Tan brings over 30 years of experience in banking, credit, and risk management within Asean and Greater China. He joined UOB in 2012 as head of group credit for retail and later became head of group business banking.

Prior to his current role, he served as chief executive of UOB Thailand and facilitated foreign direct investments into the country. Tan returned to Singapore in 2024 as deputy chief risk officer, focusing on strengthening the bank’s risk management practices.