UOB Names Christine Cheng as China CEO in Regional Leadership Reshuffle

Singapore-based United Overseas Bank has appointed Christine Cheng as president and chief executive officer of UOB China, as the lender reshuffles senior leadership across its Greater China operations.

Cheng, currently CEO of UOB’s Hong Kong branch, will take over from Foo Moo Tan, who is retiring this year. Her appointment will take effect on July 1, 2026. UOB also named Dong Qingxian, currently regional head of UOB Korea, as the next CEO of its Hong Kong branch.

Cheng brings more than two decades of banking experience across mainland China and Hong Kong. She joined UOB China in 2018 as head of wholesale banking, overseeing areas including corporate banking, commercial banking, financial institutions, structured trade and commodity finance, transaction banking and investment banking. She became CEO of UOB Hong Kong in March 2024.

Before joining UOB, Cheng held senior roles in wholesale banking and investment banking at a multinational bank. She graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a bachelor’s degree in international finance.

In her new role, Cheng will oversee UOB China’s business and operations, with a focus on executing strategic priorities and strengthening the bank’s cross-border service capabilities. UOB China, headquartered in Shanghai, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore banking group and has operated in mainland China for more than four decades.

The appointment comes as Southeast Asian banks continue to deepen their China-related business, particularly in trade and investment flows between China and ASEAN. UOB said its China platform plays an important role in supporting companies expanding across the region.

Dong, who will succeed Cheng in Hong Kong, has more than 30 years of banking experience across mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea and ASEAN markets. He joined UOB in 2010 and previously led institutional banking at the Hong Kong branch for a decade before becoming regional head of UOB Korea in 2021.

UOB deputy chairman and CEO Wee Ee Cheong said China remains central to trade, investment and cross-border economic activity with ASEAN, adding that both Cheng and Dong are internally developed leaders with extensive regional experience.