DBS Hong Kong CEO Sebastian Paredes to retire next year, successor groomed from within | 繁體

Hong Kong, 13 Aug 2026 - After an illustrious 16-year career with DBS, Sebastian Paredes, Head of North Asia and CEO of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (“DBS Hong Kong”) will be retiring from executive duties on 1 March, 2027. He will stay on as Senior Advisor. Reflecting the strength of its leadership bench and longstanding commitment to developing talent from within, DBS also announced Ng Sier Han, presently CEO of DBS Taiwan, will be appointed as CEO of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) with effect from 1 March 2027, subject to regulatory approval. 

Standing as the longest serving active bank CEO in Hong Kong’s current banking industry, Sebastian has led DBS Bank (Hong Kong) since September 2010. He has been on the DBS Bank (China) board since 2011 and served as the Chairman of DBS China since April 2023. Sebastian has also overseen the Group’s North Asia franchise covering Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Under his leadership, DBS Bank (Hong Kong) delivered record net profit of HKD 9.6 billion (SGD 1.61 billion) in 2025, while earning industry recognitions as Best International Bank in Hong Kong by FinanceAsia and Bank of the Year by Bloomberg Businessweek for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026. With him at the helm, DBS’ Greater China operations beyond Hong Kong also performed strongly, achieving a record net profit of SGD 791 million in 2025. 

During his tenure at DBS, Sebastian has brought an ambitious vision to redefine the bank’s scale and capabilities. Over the past 15 years, DBS Hong Kong has delivered sustained growth and resilient profitability, successfully navigating economic cycles and market turmoil. DBS Hong Kong’s total income in 2025 was 2.5 times of what it was 15 years ago, and its net profit had almost tripled since 2010. DBS Hong Kong has risen to establish as one of the largest banks in Hong Kong by income and net profit, anchoring Hong Kong as a significant revenue engine for DBS Group outside of Singapore.  

Sebastian has also led the bank to continue to transform and gear up for the future of banking, leveraging digitalisation, data and AI to improve business performances, customer journey and employee experience. The bank will bring Generative AI and agentic AI capabilities to over 1 million users in Hong Kong, enhancing their ability to retrieve and analyse transactions, payment status and banking fee information through a single conversation, while delivering faster, more intuitive support and selected task fulfilment within secure, governed journeys. 

As Hong Kong continues to be the leading international financial centre and a world-class wealth hub, Sebastian spearheaded strategic shifts and strengthened DBS Hong Kong by strategically positioning the bank for Wealth, covering the entire wealth continuum from affluent to ultra-high-net-worth clients. This transformation has led to DBS Hong Kong’s current diversified business mixture, with approximately one-third of its portfolio in wealth, small and medium enterprises, and large corporate segments, which is well-balanced for a sustainable long-term growth.  

Sebastian Paredes, CEO of DBS Bank (Hong Kong) and Head of North Asia of DBS Group said, “Serving as CEO of DBS Hong Kong has been the greatest privilege of my professional journey. Since taking on this role, I have had the honour of leading the franchise to build out a solid balance sheet, embrace digital transformation, enhance our customer experience, deliver consistent shareholder value, and give back to the local communities in Hong Kong. I am deeply grateful to our board, our clients and our incredible team for their trust. Sier Han, my successor groomed from within, is a testament to the strength of DBS’ leadership bench. I am confident that our franchise in Hong Kong as well as in North Asia are exceptionally well-positioned for the next chapter of growth.” 

Tan Su Shan, Chief Executive Officer of DBS Group and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of DBS Hong Kong said, “Over the past 16 years, Sebastian has played a pivotal role in transforming DBS Hong Kong into a leading franchise. Through his strategic vision and leadership, he also strengthened DBS’ position in North Asia, deepened customer relationships and fostered a culture of innovation that has positioned the franchise strongly for the future. While he will only hand over the reins next March, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for his leadership and the lasting impact he has had on DBS, our customers and our people.” 

A banker of over 40 years, a citizen of Ecuador and Spain, Sebastian has a strong track record in building franchises across multiple markets and is highly experienced in managing complex situations and leading through different cycles of the economy. Prior to joining DBS, Sebastian was the President Director of PT Bank Danamon Indonesia, where he successfully solidified the bank’s position in retail, SME and commercial banking. Before Danamon, he spent 20 years at Citigroup in South America, Central America, Turkey and Central Asia and acted as Head of Sub-Saharan Africa.

About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's “AA-” and “Aa1” credit ratings are among the highest in the world. 

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best AI Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the winner of multiple digital assets awards. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, wealth, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. 

DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.