David Li of The Bank of East Asia receives Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award 2016

By Foo Boon Ping

Under Li’s leadership, The Bank of East Asia has stood its ground to cement its place in the evolving global and regional financial landscape. Li is an inspiration to all leaders and has created a benchmark for lifetime achievements in the banking industry.

David K.P. Li received The William “Bill” Seidman Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Leadership in the Financial Services Industry for 2016, while The Bank of East Asia has been named Best Managed Bank in Hong Kong at the prestigious, triennial Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards held during The Asian Banker Summit 2016 on 10th May 2016 at the JW Marriott Hanoi.

(Left to right) Alain Chevalier, Chairman, The Asian Banker Summit Advisory Council; Nguyen Thi Hong, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Vietnam; David K.P. Li, Chairman and CEO, The Bank of East Asia; Barney Frank, former Chairman of House Financial Services Committee, US Congress; Emmanuel Daniel, Chairman, The Asian Banker

Li is the driving force that reflects the best as well as the enduring strengths of Hong Kong’s few remaining independent domestic banks. A visionary leader who continues to rethink, reimagine, and take the bank to the next level, he recognised and fully understood the importance of digital initiatives ahead of others. Under his watch, the Bank of East Asia has won local and international acclaim for its pioneering digital innovations.

Faced with challenges such as the re-rating of the bank, the slowdown in China’s economy, and the fiercely competitive Hong Kong market, the veteran banker skilfully piloted the bank. He successfully defended the bank from external attempts to weaken his management board and reinforced support from the bank’s key stakeholders.

Li’s astute leadership has transformed the bank into a modern, innovative and independent institution in an increasingly uncertain and volatile operating environment. The Bank of East Asia has become the largest independent local bank in Hong Kong as well as a leader in innovation and customer service globally.

The William “Bill” Seidman Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Leadership in the Financial Services Industry recognises individuals who reshaped not only the institutions that they worked for, but the entire financial services industry in their respective countries and regions. The Asian Banker seeks to recognise people who are considered giants in the industry because of their lifetime contributions and leadership. This is the most prestigious of the achievement awards, as it recognises those who have distinguished their reputations, skills, and achievements over a lifetime, setting the benchmark from which others are assessed. The lifetime winners recognised in the past have made considerable contributions to the building of institutions that have gone from strength to strength, and in some cases have created an entire industry in their respective countries.

The full list of winners of the Leadership Achievement Awards includes:

Leadership Award and Best Managed Bank in Singapore and Asia Pacific

Samuel N. Tsien, Group Chief Executive Officer, OCBC Bank, Singapore

Leadership Awards and Best Managed Banks and Retail Banker of the Year

Jahja Setiaatmadja, President Director, Bank Central Asia, Indonesia

Leadership Awards and Best Managed Banks

Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Managing Director, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited
Aravinda Perera, Managing Director, Sampath Bank, Sri Lanka
Chao Chin Tung, Chairman, CTBC Bank, Taiwan
Banthoon Lamsam, Chairman and CEO, Kasikornbank, Thailand
Le Cong, CEO, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Vietnam
Salah Jassim Murad, CEO, Ahli Bank, Qatar
Ala'a Eraiqat, Group CEO, Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, United Arab Emirates

The Best Managed Banks

Blom Bank, Lebanon
Shinhan Bank, South Korea

The William “Bill” Seidman Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Leadership in the Financial Services Industry and Best Managed Bank in Hong Kong