Our Leadership

LEE Wai Fai
Chairman, UOBAM
Group Chief Financial Officer, UOB

Wai Fai is Chairman of UOBAM and the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of UOBAM's parent, United Overseas Bank (UOB). He leads the banking group's financial and management accounting, investor relations and corporate services divisions.

Wai Fai joined UOB in 1989 and has held senior positions in the UOB group, including being head of international branches and regional banking subsidiaries, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of UOB Radanasin Bank Public Company Limited, Head of Finance as well as Head of Policy and Planning of UOB.

He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Business Administration degree in Banking and Finance from the Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University. Wai Fai has more than 25 years of experience in the banking sector.

THIO Boon Kiat
Chief Executive Officer, UOBAM

Boon Kiat has close to 30 years of investment management experience, and has served as the Group CEO of UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) since 2011. Under his leadership, UOBAM has established itself as a leading regional player in the asset management industry, receiving significant industry recognition in Singapore and the region.

In 2020, UOBAM was awarded double honours, winning the regional marquee award - the prestigious "Best Asia Fund House" at both Asia Asset Management Best of Best Awards and AsianInvestor Asset Management Awards (second consecutive year). UOBAM's advance in harnessing technology was recognised with the "Best in Fintech in Asset Management (Singapore)" award from Asia Asset Management Best of Best Awards 2020 and "Best Wealth Management Platform (Thailand)" the previous year.

Over the years, UOBAM has won over 200 top awards from prestigious organisations and publications such as Morningstar, Refinitive and The Asset Benchmark Research across the region.

For his contributions to UOBAM, Boon Kiat was recognised as "CEO of the Year in Asia" for two consecutive years by Asia Asset Management Best of Best Awards 2015 and 2014. He was also conferred the "IBF Fellow" title by the Institute of Banking and Finance in 2015.

A passionate advocate of digitalisation, Boon Kiat has been spearheading UOBAM's digital transformation initiative, driving the adoption of emerging technology, enhancement of infrastructure and establishment of strategic partnerships across the organisation with a view to solidifying UOBAM's position as a digital leader in asset management in Asia.

He strongly believes that there is an optimal balance and point of convergence between man and machine in many areas, including asset management; that AI should be more "Augmented Intelligence" than "Artificial Intelligence". This philosophy has already borne tangible fruit in the form of UOBAM Invest, Singapore's first robo-advisory app launched by an established asset manager in 2020. UOBAM was also the first in Singapore to pioneer a corporate platform version in 2018 and subsequently rolled out to corporate clients in Malaysia a year later.

Boon Kiat has also championed the cause for sustainable investing in Asia. A firm believer in "Investing for Purpose and Profit", he has led UOBAM to become one of the first regional asset managers in Singapore to sign on the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. This is on top of also being a signatory to the Singapore Stewardship Principles for Responsible Investors, underlining the firm’s commitment to making sustainable investing a key tenet.

CHONG Jiun Yeh
Chief Investment Officer, UOBAM

As Chief Investment Officer of UOB Asset Management, Jiun Yeh leads the investment team in developing the firm’s long-term investment strategy and in managing asset allocation with the objective to maximise the value of investments in assets for our investors. He has oversight for the teams managing Equities, Fixed Income, Multi-Asset, including spearheading the firm’s strategic thrusts in sustainable investing and investment technology.

Under Jiun Yeh’s leadership, UOBAM was ranked as one of the top investment houses in Asian G3 bonds, and Asian local currency bonds in Singapore and Thailand respectively at The Asset 2019 Benchmark Research Awards. Over the years, UOBAM has won prestigious awards such as ‘Best Asia Fixed Income House Singapore 2018’ from International Finance Awards and ‘Best Fixed Income Fund House’ at the Morningstar Awards 2017.

Prior to joining UOBAM in 2008, Jiun Yeh was the Managing Director (Fund Management) and Co-Head of Portfolio Management for ST Asset Management (STAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings. Before that, he was Head of Fixed Income and Currencies at OUB Asset Management. He has vast experience in managing equities, fixed income and structured investment portfolios, including emerging market local currencies debts, G7 FX overlays as well as Asia-Pacific equities.

Jiun Yeh graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Estate Management) (Second Upper Honours) degree from the National University of Singapore.

Wijaya ELHAM
Chief Operating Officer, UOBAM

As Chief Operating Officer, Wijaya is responsible for the overall functions of Middle Office and Governance, System and Data Management as well as the Operations of UOBAM.

He joined UOBAM in August 2015 and has more than 19 years of extensive operational experience, principally in investment custody operations, fund accounting and new business consulting. Prior to joining UOBAM, he was Head of Operations with Northern Trust Company.

Wijaya was educated at Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Faizal GAFFOOR
Chief Marketing Officer, UOBAM

As Chief Marketing Officer, Faizal leads the business development initiatives of the firm, heading the Retail and Institutional Sales teams, and strategising on Product Development and Marketing. His responsibilities include the creation of products and services that meet the needs of retail and institutional investors across the region.

Faizal is a UOBAM stalwart, having joined the business development team in 1996 and rising through the ranks to head regional business development in 2007. He was instrumental in initiating and strategising the expansion of UOBAM into the regional Asia markets with the establishment of UOBAM (Brunei), UOBAM (Japan), OSK-UOB Islamic Fund Management Berhad joint venture in Malaysia and the formation of strategic alliances with major third-party fund managers.

He is currently one of the directors of UOBAM (Japan) and sits on the board of UOBAM (Brunei). In Singapore, he is a member of the UOBAM Management Committee and is also a voting member of the Regional Investment, Risk and Product Committees.

Previously, Faizal represented UOBAM as the alternate director to UOBAM Managing Director on the board of OSK/UOB Islamic Fund Management Berhad in Malaysia. From July 2008 to February 2010 he was also appointed as a board director of UOB Philippines. In January 2011, he was appointed Head of Business Development and in January 2015 he assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer.

Prior to joining UOBAM, Faizal worked with Citibank in the Singapore and regional office, which oversaw the Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets, contributing in the areas of client service and product development for the unit trusts/mutual funds business.

He graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Economics from the National University of Singapore.

Kamal MUHD
General Manager, UOBAM (Brunei)

As General Manager of UOBAM (Brunei) office, Kamal is responsible for overseeing the local business and initiating on product structuring for institutional offerings.

He joined UOBAM (Brunei) in 2007 to set up and lead the local office. Since then, Kamal has been instrumental in spearheading the growth of UOBAM's business in Brunei through actively identifying and engaging with potential and existing clients. He also oversees UOBAM (Brunei)'s compliance functions in the preparation of manuals and policies to comply with the various local regulation and group policies.

Prior to joining UOBAM (Brunei), Kamal was the Investment Head at Brunei's National Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and was responsible for overseeing the Fund's administration and trustee role. He has more than 14 years of experience in investment related roles.

Kamal graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (Honours) from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Kamal is actively engaged in the Brunei Darussalam Capital Market Association (BCMA) as the Association's Vice Chairperson.

Jasmine LIM
Deputy General Manager, Ping An Fund Management Company

Jasmine is Deputy General Manager of Ping An Fund Management Company, a joint venture between UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) and Ping An Group of China. Jasmine is instrumental in setting up the joint venture in Shenzhen, China with Ping An and was assigned to be the key representative of UOBAM in the JV since 2011. Under her leadership, Ping An Fund Management Company has grown to be one of the major players in both the mutual funds and segregated accounts asset management industry in China. Prior to that, Jasmine was Senior Director in UOBAM overseeing business development for the Greater China region.

Jasmine joined UOB in 1995 and has more than 20 years of experience in the asset management industry. During her tenor at UOB Group, Jasmine took on different roles including managing electronic channels with the Branch Division, managing the salesforce with Consumer Banking’s (now known as Personal Financial Services) Investment Services Division, and driving retail and institutional business development at UOBAM. She was hand-picked by former UOB Group President, Mr Ernest Wong, to be his assistant in 2000.

Jasmine graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1992 with a 2^nd Upper Honours Degree in Business Administration. She held the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional qualifications.

Ari ADIL
Chief Executive Officer, PT UOB Asset Management Indonesia

Ari joined UOB Asset Management in July 2020 to head the firm’s expansion into Indonesia.

A veteran of the investment management industry in Indonesia for more than 15 years, Ari has been instrumental in delivering several innovations to the capital markets in Indonesia. Among these was in leading an initiative to offer Indonesia’s mutual funds through a private bank in Singapore for their clients – a first for Indonesia’s mutual fund industry in 2009. This was when he was a Product Specialist at Bank Julius Baer in Singapore, and subsequently a Director in PT Julius Baer Advisors Indonesia. Since then he has been active in offering Indonesia's mutual funds to investors in overseas markets. He was instrumental in launching the first global Shariah fund by a wholly-local owned asset manager in Indonesia that was also an innovation in using a collaboration scheme with a foreign fund manager, when he was head of Product & Business Development at PT Mandiri Manajemen Investasi from 2013 to 2017.

As a forerunner in the investment management industry, Ari is active in developing the capital market in Indonesia. He was involved in founding the investment advisor's association in Indonesia, namely Indonesian Investment Advisory Association ("APII"), in 2018 and has been its Chairman since. He is also the presidium member of Indonesian Investment and Mutual Fund Management Association ("APRDI"), having held the position since 2018.

Ari started his career at PT Danareksa Investment Management as a Structured Product Manager, before moving to Julius Baer, Citibank and then PT Mandiri Manajemen Investasi. Prior to joining UOBAM Indonesia, he was President Commissioner of PT Jagartha Penasihat Investasi from 2018.

Ari graduated from the University of Indonesia with a Bachelor of Engineering, majoring in Industrial Engineering. He then obtained a Master of Commerce (majoring in Accounting & Finance) from the University of Sydney (Australia). In 2018, he attended an Executive Education programme in Venture Capital at University of California, Berkeley.

Hideaki MOCHIZUKI
Chief Executive Officer and Representing Director, UOBAM (Japan)

As Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Japan), Hideaki is responsible for growing UOBAM's presence in one of Asia's key markets. The Japan office promotes UOBAM's extensive range of investment products and services to various client segments, including the retail and institutional markets in Japan.

Prior to joining UOBAM (Japan) in 2014, Hideaki was Director and Head of Sales at Franklin Templeton Investments Japan Limited between 2002 and 2014. He was previously Managing Director (Japanese Equities) at ABN AMRO Securities Japan Limited and Head of Japanese Equity Sales Department of BZW Japan Securities. Hideaki has also worked at various Japanese equity sales roles at SG Warburg Securities Japan Limited, Prudential Securities Japan Limited and Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.

Hideaki obtained a Bachelor of Economics from Tokyo Metropolitan University. He is a Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (CMA), a Chartered Member of the Technical Analysts Association of Japan (NTAA) and a 1^st grade Certified Skilled Worker of Financial Planning.

LIM Suet Ling
Chief Executive Officer, UOBAM (Malaysia)

Suet Ling heads the Malaysia subsidiary of UOBAM and is responsible for spearheading the firm's business expansion in Malaysia. She has been a key member of UOBAM's management team and its regional growth. Under her leadership, the Malaysia office has garnered several awards over the years.

Her investment experience spans more than 20 years with particular expertise in Malaysia and Asian ex-Japan equities. Her mandates have been wide-ranging with varying focus and creative investment styles. 

Suet Ling has held senior positions, including the Malaysia equity team head of UOB Asset Management Ltd and portfolio manager of funds in both Malaysia and Singapore. She was promoted to Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Malaysia) in 2005 to oversee the growth of the company.

Suet Ling graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) from the National University of Singapore and is a CFA charterholder.

Suhazi Reza BIN SELAMAT
Chief Executive Officer, UOB Islamic Asset Management Sdn Bhd

Reza has 20 years of investment-related experience in the financial services industry. Beginning in the Treasury Division of a Malaysian Bank, Reza dealt in multiple financial instruments for both proprietary trading and corporate desks before moving into asset management in 2002. He was based in the Middle East in 2008 and 2009 to develop the middle eastern market for a Malaysian asset management firm and has been specialising in Islamic Asset Management since 2010.

Reza graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from La Trobe University, Melbourne and obtained the Security Commission of Malaysia's Capital Markets and Services Representative’s License (CMSRL) for fund management in 2011.

William WANG
Chief Executive Officer, UOBAM (Taiwan)

As Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Taiwan), William is responsible for the overall management and growth of UOBAM's business in Taiwan. Under his leadership, UOBAM (Taiwan) became the first fully foreign-owned fund management company to obtain a SITE licence since 2001.

William joined UOBAM (Taiwan) in 2011 and has more than 17 years of experience in the insurance and asset management industry. He is also a member of UOBAM (Taiwan) Board. He was previously Deputy General Manager of Fidelity International Securities, where he led and managed the intermediary business that accounted for more than 85% of Fidelity Taiwan's business.

William has a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University. He has served as a co-chair of the Asset Management committee of the American Chamber of Commerce and was also a director of Security Investment Trust & Consulting Association of the ROC (SITCA).

Vana BULBON
Chief Executive Officer, UOBAM (Thailand)

Vana is Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM's Thailand subsidiary and has been instrumental in building the business into an award-winning investment house in Thailand. UOBAM (Thailand) offers a wide array of mutual funds to retail clients, and provides investment management and consulting services to institutions – both Provident Funds and Private Funds. Under Vana's leadership, he oversaw the successful integration of ING Funds (Thailand) Company Ltd with UOBAM's existing operations in Thailand following UOBAM's acquisition of ING's Thai operations in 2013.

Vana was previously Deputy Director of Investment at Investment CPB Equity Co. Ltd in Thailand and was also Portfolio Manager of Investment at Prudential Portfolio Managers Asia in Singapore. He has also worked at Thai Investment and Securities Co. Ltd and Thai Capital Management Co. Ltd.

Vana holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from San Diego State University in San Diego, California, USA and a Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) from Thailand's Chulalongkorn University.