DBS is appointing Ginger Cheng as country chief executive officer of DBS China, effective April 1, subject to regulatory approval.

Currently the deputy CEO of DBS China and head of DBS’ institutional banking group (IBG) in China, Cheng will succeed Neil Ge, who will be retiring from the bank at the end of June. Like Ge, Cheng will be part of the bank’s group management committee.

As CEO of DBS China since June 2012, Ge oversaw the repositioning of its consumer and SME business, the sharpening of the institutional investors strategy and the establishment of a capital markets franchise, most recently facilitating the launch of a China securities joint venture.

During his tenure, DBS was one of the first banks to join China’s cross-border interbank payment system and the first foreign bank in China to forge an alliance with the Shanghai International Energy Exchange. DBS China has also collaborated closely with DBS Bank (Hong Kong) to advance the bank’s Greater Bay Area strategy.

A Chinese citizen, Cheng joined DBS Hong Kong in 2001 in syndicated finance. Over the course of her 20-year career at DBS, she has held progressively senior roles in the IBG in both Hong Kong and China.

In October 2019, she was appointed head of IBG China, and her remit was expanded to include the DBS China deputy CEO role in September 2021. Under her leadership, DBS’ IBG business in China has grown exponentially, with increased connectivity across the region. She has also been instrumental in deepening the bank’s relationships with key corporate and institutional clients, many of whom have made DBS their bank of choice.