CIMB Group’s Thomas receives The Asian Banker Risk Management Leadership Achievement in Asia Pacific 2018 award

• David Richard Thomas has an extensive experience in risk management and has held many senior level positions
• Under his leadership, the bank was able to align its strategy and business plans with its risk appetite
• His leadership is also the driving force behind the bank’s culture of innovation, teamwork and talent

David Richard Thomas received the Risk Management Leadership Achievement in Asia Pacific for 2018 award at The Asian Banker Business Leadership Achievement Awards for 2018. The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with The Future of Finance Summit at the China World Hotel, Beijing, China on May 24th 2018.

Throughout his career, Thomas has held various senior level positions based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia throughout his 24-year tenure in Asia. He oversees the risk management function of the Bank Group, including credit, market, operational, shariah, asset liability management risk and risk analytics & infrastructure.

Standing from left: Bill Chua, International Resource Director, The Asian Banker; Rona Morgan, International Resource Director, The Asian Banker; David Richard Thomas, Group Chief Risk Officer, CIMB Group; Alain Chevalier, Chairman of The Future of Finance Summit and Leadership Achievement Awards Advisory Council; and Paul Chow, former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchange and member of The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Advisory Council.

He initiated the Capital and Risk-weighted-assets (RWA) Optimisation Project in 2016 and tangible results were recorded as the Group achieved RWA savings from improvements seen in Wholesale Banking and the Group’s Indonesian credit business which he has direct oversight over. Following the Capital and RWA Optimisation Project, he also led the Risk Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC) and KPI setting project which resulted in enhanced capital efficiency. He is also the Group’s Chief Credit Officer and spearheaded the early warning indicator process (EWI). This significant process had improved asset quality which had resulted in higher profit before tax.

Under his leadership, the group was able to align its strategy and business plans with its risk appetite and adjust and evolve its forward-looking risk profile in a fully conscious and intentional manner. His leadership was also the driving force behind the bank’s culture of innovation, teamwork and talent.

Visit the Risk Management Awards website

Visit the photo gallery of the Leadership Achievement Awards 2018