Up the ranks: Lee Hwee Boon to lead Group HR at OCBC Bank, as Jason Ho retires

閱讀中文版本

Lee began her career with OCBC Bank as a trainee bank officer in May 1993, and has since risen through the ranks. She assumes her new role effective 24 June 2022.

OCBC Bank has announced the appointment of Lee Hwee Boon (pictured above) as its Head of Group Human Resources, to succeed incumbent Jason Ho who will retire on 23 June 2022.

Lee, who is currently the bank's Head of Enterprise Banking – Middle Market & Services, Global Commercial Banking, will assume her new role on 24 June 2022.

Lee began her career with OCBC Bank as a trainee bank officer in May 1993, and has since risen through the ranks across various business and corporate functions to her current role. In 2020, she drove the initiative to develop the OCBC SME Sustainable Finance Framework, the first of its kind among Singapore banks.

This framework enabled even small companies to access green loans without having to develop complicated frameworks. As part of the drive to develop green solutions with industry players in 2021, Lee also led the collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in their development of the Building Energy Efficiency Assessment tool to predict the energy consumption of buildings.

Through the collaboration, OCBC Bank launched a market-first green loan that leverages the Building Energy Efficiency Assessment tool.

On the leadership front, Lee is passionate about talent development, having groomed her staff for leadership positions in diverse businesses across the bank. "These staff have been instrumental in catalysing strategic initiatives and driving transformation in their own areas of work."

Meanwhile, since assuming the role of Head of Group Human Resources on 1 July 2015, Ho has introduced many initiatives which have transformed the Bank's HR function, one of which is a mobile banking app that provides all OCBC Bank employees with easy and convenient access to human resource services and information in one place.

Additionally, with the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, Ho ensured the safety and wellbeing of the Bank's 30,000 employees by rolling out COVID care packages, new policies, as well as new guidelines.

Ho’s contributions led to the bank earning regional recognition as an employer of choice. In 2021, noteworthy awards included the Tripartite Alliance Awards – Pinnacle Award (Singapore), Tripartite Alliance Awards – Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (Singapore), #1 - 2021 LinkedIn Top Companies (Singapore), and IBF Inspire Award.

Commenting on both Lee's appointment and Ho's retirement, Helen Wong, Group CEO of OCBC Bank, said: "Over the years, we have identified talents with the abilities and the potential to fill senior positions across the bank. Both Jason and Hwee Boon, though not from an HR background, have been identified to have strong people leadership skills and proven management capabilities with the right values and character.

"Just as Jason has brought a different perspective to HR, I am confident that Hwee Boon, will do the same as she transforms and drives our talent strategy."

Image / Provided

Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!