A FINANCIER who helped oversee the Kingdom’s OSK Indochina Bank has been promoted to become chief executive officer of Malaysia’s OSK Investment Bank.

U Chen Hock was made its CEO and executive director yesterday, after serving as a director of banking on its senior management team. His previous responsibilities, according to a filing to Bursa Malaysia,

included “the business and operation of debt capital markets and corporate banking, as well as OSK Indochina Bank Limited in Cambodia”.

The 55-year-old former HSBC employee succeeds Ong Leong Huat, who led OSK Investment for more than 25 years and will remain on its board as a non-independent non-executive director.

“During his tenure, the bank had achieved many successes and milestones, transforming it from a stockbroker to a universal broker and to an investment bank presently,” the filing read.

It added that the board was confident U would “be able to lead and steer the bank towards achieving its long-term strategic goals and objectives”.

The Bank Negara Malaysia has approved U’s role for a three year period, according to a filing to the Bursa Malaysia. OSK Indochina Bank opened its first branch in Phnom Penh in 2008, and planned to extend to Battambang, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville by the end of last year.