KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 1): Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) group chief risk officer Dr John Lee Hin Hock will assume the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of Maybank Singapore effective Dec 1.

Lee replaces Datuk Lim Hong Tat, who will return to Malaysia to fully focus on his role as group head of Maybank's community financial services (CFS) to drive and implement the group's community banking strategy across all geographies.

At the same time, Gilbert Kohnke will take over Lee's group chief risk officer post from Nov 1.

In a statement today, Maybank said Lee's appointment includes single-captainship responsibility for the entire spectrum of operations in Maybank Singapore, which is one of the group's three home markets.

"He will also be responsible for leading Maybank Singapore to further strengthen its position as a major financial services provider in Singapore," it added.

Lee joined Maybank in 2011 and is also a fellow certified practising accountant of the Australian Society of CPAs, a chartered banker of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers and a member of the American Finance Association, Econometrics Society and Society of Financial Studies.

Prior to joining Maybank, he held positions in financial services consulting and advisory, where he was a partner with KPMG Business Advisory for 13 years, assisting numerous financial institutions across the Asia Pacific markets. He was also with Amanah Merchant Bank and the Kuala Lumpur Options and Financial Futures Exchange.

Kohnke, meanwhile, will be responsible for leading the group risk transformation, as well as balancing the need for resilient customer-centric risk practices amid the increasingly stringent banking environment.

He has more than 29 years of experience in global financial institutions, with a proven track record of strong risk expertise and talent management/people development.

Prior to joining Maybank, Kohnke was group chief risk officer at Danske Bank AS, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, for 2½ years. Prior to Danske Bank, he served in the same capacity at OCBC Bank, based in Singapore for nine years.

Maybank group president and CEO Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said following the success of the first group executive committee role rotation initiated in mid-2016, the group has embarked on its second rotation which is in line with its strategic objective of ensuring and establishing a strong succession pipeline for every mission critical position.

"This is an ongoing process designed to strengthen the group's leadership team by bringing new ideas and further heightening the level of energy," he said.