OCBC Bank appoints Jason Ho as Head of Group Human Resources

He will replace Cynthia Tan.

OCBC Bank has announced that its Head of Group Human Resources, Cynthia Tan, will retire on 30 June 2015, and she will be succeeded by the Bank’s Head of Asset & Liability Management, Jason Ho.

According to a release from OCBC Bank, 52-year-old Ho, a banking veteran of 28 years’ standing, will assume the role of Head of Group Human Resources with effect from 1 July 2015.

To ensure a smooth transition, he will be appointed the Deputy Head of Group Human Resources on 1 January 2015.

Ms Tan, 64, joined OCBC Bank in September 2000 as head of the Group Human Resources (HR) division. Over the past 15 years, she has led the transformation of the HR function from a business support role to a strategic and business-focused one.

She was instrumental in implementing several HR programmes and initiatives that contributed to OCBC Bank’s becoming recognised as an employer of choice.

The Bank was named as one of the Best Companies for Mums by NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat in 2014, and the Most Attractive Employer in the Banking and Financial Services Sector in the Randstand Awards 2013.

In 2006, the training department was expanded into a full-scale Learning & Talent Development Academy with 3 faculties – Banking & Finance, People Development and Quality & Service.

In 2013, the Learning & Talent Development Academy expanded again – into a $60 million 10-storey dedicated regional learning hub located in the Central Business District.

The new OCBC Campus now provides continuous learning and development opportunities for the more than 28,000 employees of the OCBC Group.

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Under Ms Tan’s watch, too, a series of targeted talent development programmes was rolled out – the OCBC-INSEAD Executive Development Programme in 2008 for exceptional talent, the OCBC Future Leaders programme in 2012 for talent below the age of 35 years and the OCBC Smart Asia Programme in 2014 for senior managers.

In 2007, OCBC Bank became the first financial institution to open an in-house childcare centre at its head office. In 2012, it was the first financial institution to introduce employee benefits initiatives such as the Career Break, which allows employees to take up to three months of sabbatical leave for any reason while remaining covered by the Bank’s medical insurance plans, and the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Leave scheme.

In 2003, OCBC Bank began to survey its employees to ascertain engagement levels, using Aon Hewitt’s employee engagement model. Over the years, the Bank’s annual Employee Satisfaction Survey (ESS) would rise to within Aon Hewitt’s High Performance/Best Employer Range, exceeding the Global Financial Norm engagement score of 57 percent.

Meanwhile, the Internal Job-Posting Programme (IJP) also implemented in 2003 has achieved great success. IJP gives employees first crack at applying for positions that become available, allowing them to broaden their job experience and pursue a longterm career with the Bank. More than 25 per cent of our vacancies are filled internally every year.

More recently, in May this year, OCBC Bank was the first bank to give its first Wage Credit Scheme (WCS) payout – amounting to S$3 million – to its employees. Some 1,500 Singaporean employees of the Bank and its securities subsidiary, OCBC Securities Pte Ltd (OSPL), benefited.

Mr Ho, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from NUS in 1986 and a Masters in Applied Finance from Australia’s Macquarie University in 1999 is well-placed to take OCBC Bank further down the road of innovation. He joined the Bank as Head of Asset & Liability Management in January 2013.

He has extensive banking experience in the treasury and trading business, currently also serving as the Deputy President of ACI – The Financial Markets Association. Prior to joining

OCBC Bank, Mr Ho was KBC Bank’s Regional Treasurer, Asia Pacific.

During his two years at OCBC Bank, Mr Ho has been deeply involved in key HR initiatives. Under the OCBC Mentoring programme, he mentored several young talents to prepare them for larger responsibilities within the Bank.

He provided strategic input during the conceptualisation of the Bank’s leadership programme for senior leaders.