Hong Kong government names journalist-turned-regulator Julia Leung as the first woman CEO of SFC
- Leung, who is the deputy CEO of the Securities and Futures Commission, takes over from Ashley Alder
- She is in charge of many ongoing projects, including the new licensing regime for virtual assets service providers, which will be implemented in June
The Hong Kong government has appointed former Asian Wall Street Journal journalist Julia Leung Fung-yee as the first woman CEO of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the regulator said on Thursday.
Leung, 62, will take charge on January 1 for a three-year term.
Leung, the deputy CEO of the markets watchdog, was considered to be the most ideal candidate to replace Ashley Alder, as she has been ably assisting him for a long time, said one of the sources who was involved in the selection process.
She was the backbone of Hong Kong’s regulatory framework, especially during the past three years when the capital market was buffeted by geopolitical strife and US sanctions, a vital experience that equipped her with a unique understanding of Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s financial hub, the source said.
Leung is currently handling many important projects for the SFC, including the new licensing regime to be implemented in June for virtual assets service providers, said the second source on why she was selected for the post.
