Xie Yonglin lauded for leading Ping An Bank to becoming a regional champion in the age of technology

Xie Yonglin, Chairman of Ping An Bank wins the CEO Leadership Achievement Award for China and Asia Pacific in 2019 and Ping An Bank is the Best Managed Bank in China and Asia Pacific

For his outstanding leadership and strategic vision that led the bank to transform towards a smart retail bank and improve core competitive advantages in products and technology, Xie Yonglin, Chairman of Ping An Bank wins the CEO Leadership Achievement Award for China and Asia Pacific in 2019 and Ping An Bank is the Best Managed Bank in China and Asia Pacific.

He was appointed Chairman of the bank in December 2016 when the banking industry was facing challenges in sustaining profit growth and managing non-performing loans. In the midst of these difficulties, he developed and implemented the strategy to transform the bank. He leveraged on technology to reinvent the bank as part of the goal to become the leading intelligent retail and wholesale banking institution in the country.

He adjusted the structure of the bank to streamline administration, and reorganise the segments according to business strategy. He put great emphasis on technology innovation and application and led the bank to invest heavily in technology. The bank has recruited a large number of technical experts from leading Internet technology companies to push forward the co-working of technology talents and financial talents. In 2018, the IT capital expenditure was up by 82% year on year, and the number of technology staff increased by over 44%.

Retail banking business has successfully become a major driving force for revenue growth of the bank after two years’ transformation and development. The proportion of retail revenue and loans has exceeded 50% of the whole bank. The number of retail customers increased by 20% in 2018, among which wealth management customers increased by 30%. The number of credit card in circulation and the number of monthly active customers of its mobile banking app was up by 34.4% and 74.6%, respectively.

The bank has made remarkable improvements in asset quality. And he led the bank to strengthen the support to private enterprises and SMEs. At the end of 2018, loans issued to private enterprises accounted for nearly 60% of the bank's total corporate loans. The bank also enhanced the credit support to green industries in the field of new energy and clean energy.

With him at helm, the bank continues with the second stage of retail transformation in 2019, and takes efforts to implement retail AI strategy to build an AI bank. Artificial intelligence is used as the internal driving force to improve the innovation mechanism and deepen the agile organisation.

Given these milestone achievements, Mr. Xie Yonglin, Chairman of Ping An Bank wins the CEO Leadership Achievement Award for China and Asia Pacific in 2019 and Ping An Bank is the Best Managed Bank in China and Asia Pacific.

Innovation Leadership Achievement Awards are designed to recognise the achievements of outstanding individuals who play a pivotal role in introducing and implementing authentic innovation in their organisations. These are executives whose vision, efforts, and commitment inspire and champion the innovation capabilities that are already well regarded by peers in the industry.

Other winners from The Asian Banker Innovation Leadership Achievement Awards include:

• Best Systemic and Prudential Regulator in Asia Pacific –
Monetary Authority of Singapore
• Best Conduct of Business Regulator in Asia Pacific –
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
• Retail Banker of the Year in Asia Pacific
Mr. Cai Xinfa, CEO, Retail Business, Ping An Bank, China.
• Innovation Leadership Achievement Awards
Ms Monsinee Nakapanant, Co-President, Ascend Money
• Best Managed Bank Award –Singapore
OCBC Bank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards - Brunei
Mr. Mubashar Khokhar, Managing Director and CEO of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards - Indonesia
Dr. Suprajarto, President Director of Bank Rakyat Indonesia
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards - Malaysia
Mr. Tan Kong Khoon, CEO of Hong Leong Financial Group
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –The Philippines
Mr. Arthur Ty, Chairman of Metrobank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –Sri Lanka
Mr. Jonathan Alles, Managing Director and CEO of Hatton National Bank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –Taiwan
Mr. Chao-Chin Tung, Chairman of CTBC Bank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –Thailand
Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich, President of Bangkok Bank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –Qatar
Mr. Bassel Gamal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Islamic Bank
• CEO Leadership Achievement and Best Managed Bank Awards –UAE
Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank