KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Hong Leong Asset Management Bhd, the fund management arm of Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd (KL:HLFG), on Friday announced the appointment of Chue Kwok Yan as its chief executive officer.

The appointment took effect on Wednesday, Sept 11, following approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia, the company said in a statement. Chue is a former chief executive officer and chief investment officer of KAF Investment Funds Bhd, as well as head of research at Affin Hwang Capital.

“We are pleased to bring Chue on board to bring accelerated change and drive our asset management business,” said Lee Jim Leng, the chairman of Hong Leong Asset Management. His track record of more than 24 years in the financial industry will “spur our business forward”, she said.

Chue had spent nine years on research at KAF Seagroatt & Campbell Securities Sdn Bhd, a year at CLSA Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and five years at ABN Amro Research Malaysia, where he started his career.

Trained as an engineer at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London, Chue also holds a Capital Markets Services Representative’s Licence.

“We are confident that Chue's leadership skills, combined with his deep understanding of the Malaysian capital markets, will be instrumental in spearheading Hong Leong Asset Management's growth and success in the years to come,” Lee added.

Shares of HLFG, the financial services arm of tycoon Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, were trading at RM19.28 at the time of writing on Friday, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM22.05 billion.