Board of Directors / CE / ACE

Mr. Lai Wan has 51 years of experience in the banking and finance related industries. He was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in December 2013, and became the Independent Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Public Financial and Public Bank (Hong Kong) in July 2015. Mr. Lai was re-designated as the Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Public Financial and Public Bank (Hong Kong) in June 2021 and re-designated as the Non-Executive Chairman in January 2023. He is a member of the Audit Committee and Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Public Financial. Mr. Lai is currently the Non-Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Public Bank and a Non-Executive Director of Public Finance. Mr. Lai is also a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance. He holds directorship in another company in the Public Bank Group. Mr. Lai graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Economics from University of Malaya and is an Associate of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers. He had served Bank Negara Malaysia for 20 years up to 1985 and had working experience in three finance companies from 1985 to 1994 where he had held senior management positions. Mr. Lai was appointed the President/Chief Executive Officer of a Malaysian bank in 1997 until his retirement in December 2000.

Mr. Chong Yam Kiang has 55 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. He was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in January 2009, and re-designated as Executive Director and appointed as the Chief Executive of Public Financial in January 2024. Mr. Chong was re-designated from Non-Executive Director to Executive Director and appointed as the Chief Executive of Public Bank (Hong Kong) in January 2024, and re-designated from Executive Director and Chief Executive to Executive Director of Public Finance in November 2023 and further re-designated to Non-Executive Director of Public Finance in January 2024. He is a member of Board Executive Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance and also a director of certain subsidiaries of Public Financial. Mr. Chong is currently a member of the Deposit-taking Companies Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He had served as an Executive Committee member of The DTC Association (The Hong Kong Association of Restricted Licence Banks and Deposit-taking Companies) for several years.

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tay Ah Lek has 64 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. He was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Public Financial from January 1995 to April 2014. He is currently the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Public Bank and a Non-Executive Director and the Chairman or a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong). He also holds directorships in several other companies in the Public Bank Group. Tan Sri Tay holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Henley, United Kingdom and he is an Alumni of Harvard Business School. He is an Emeritus Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Management, a Fellow, Chartered Banker, of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. He is presently the Chairman of the Association of Hire Purchase Companies Malaysia and is a Council Member of the Association of Banks in Malaysia and the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.

Dato’ Chang Kat Kiam has 50 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. He was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in March 2004. He is also a Non-Executive Director and the Chairman or a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance. Dato’ Chang is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Public Bank. He also holds directorships in several other companies in the Public Bank Group. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Finance) from University of Hull, United Kingdom and is a Chartered Banker of the Chartered Banker Institute, United Kingdom and the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.

Mr. Lee Chin Guan has 25 years of experience in legal matters, with 13 years of experience in legal practice, principally in commercial and corporate matters. He was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in September 2004 and is a member of the Audit Committee and Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Public Financial. He is also a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Bank, and an Independent Non-Executive Director and the Chairman or a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance. Mr. Lee is the Chairman of the Boards of two other companies in the Public Bank Group. Mr. Lee qualified as a Barrister-at-Law from Middle Temple, United Kingdom in 1982. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Honours) from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, England and Degrees in Law from Cambridge University, Oxford University and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Mr. Lim Chao Li has over 30 years of experience in commerce, accountancy, finance, hospitality, property and technology industries and practices in Malaysia and United States. He was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in July 2021 and is the Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of Public Financial. He is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Bank, Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance, and the Chairman or a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance. Mr. Lim is also a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of JcbNext Berhad, which is a listed public company in Malaysia. Mr. Lim holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics Degree majoring in Accounting and Finance from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, USA. He also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Systems Engineering) Degree from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Mr. Lim had previously served Deloitte & Touche USA and Johnson & Johnson Medical Malaysia. Currently, he is the Chief Commercial Officer of Hotel Equatorial Management Sdn Bhd.

Ms. Phe Kheng Peng has more than 25 years of experience in banking and fund management industry in Malaysia. She was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Public Financial in May 2023 and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Public Financial. Ms. Phe is also an Independent Non-Executive Director and the Chairman or a member of various Board Committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and Public Finance. She holds directorship in another company in the Public Bank Group. Ms. Phe is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Pintaras Jaya Berhad and Southern Score Builders Berhad, both of which are listed public companies in Malaysia. Ms. Phe holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) Degree from University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, and is a Fellow of Certified Practising Accountant Australia. She had previously served in AmBank Group – fund management division as Chief Investment Officer of AmInvestment Management Sdn Bhd (currently known as “AmFunds Management Berhad”) and subsequently appointed as the Managing Director, Global Markets of AmBank Group. From 2013 to 2021, Ms. Phe served in Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad as the Managing Director whereby she was responsible for all institutional and corporate clients business in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Mr. Ng Chee Khuen has over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial sector. He was appointed as the General Manager and Alternate Chief Executive of Public Bank (Hong Kong) in February 2020 and October 2020, respectively, and promoted to the position of Senior General Manager and Alternate Chief Executive in January 2024. He is a member of various management committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong) and also a director of Winton Financial Limited, an operating subsidiary of Public Financial. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Ng was the General Manager of Winton Financial Limited in charge of the overall operations of the company from June 2009 to January 2020, and the Assistant General Manager of Public Bank (Hong Kong) in charge of various business units from September 2006 to May 2009, and Winton Financial Limited from January 1998 to August 2006. Prior to that, he was attached to Public Bank, Malaysia. Mr. Ng holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Chichester, United Kingdom, a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the National University of Malaysia and the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Mr. Chiang Kam Sing has over 40 years of banking experience in Hong Kong and overseas. He joined Public Bank (Hong Kong) in 2002 and has been the Assistant General Manager and Head of Treasury since 2004. Mr. Chiang was appointed as Alternate Chief Executive of Public Bank (Hong Kong) in April 2021, and promoted to the position of Deputy General Manager and Alternate Chief Executive in January 2024. He is a member of various management committees of Public Bank (Hong Kong). Mr. Chiang holds a Master's Degree in Applied Finance from Macquarie University, Australia and has acquired the professional qualification of the Certified Senior Treasury Management Professional (CSTMP) of the Treasury Markets Association.