The Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s current co-chief operating officer Bonnie Chan will replace chief executive Nicolas Aguzin, becoming the first female CEO of the HKEX.
Aguzin’s contract will end in May 2024 and Chan will take over for a three-year term at the helm of the HKEX.
Under Chan’s leadership, the HKEX has embarked on a series of transformative initiatives, including raising the profit requirement for new listings, liberalising the secondary listing system, introducing the SPAC mechanism, and implementing the FINI system and Chapter 18C.
The HKEX’s leadership restructuring also sees Wilfred Yiu, another co-chief operating officer, promoted to the new role of deputy chief executive while retaining his existing role. Meanwhile, chief financial officer Vanessa Lau will assume Chan’s post as co-chief operating officer, adding to her current responsibilities.
Chan first joined the HKEX in 2007 as head of IPO transactions. Three years later, she left to return to the legal industry and became a partner at Davis Polk. In 2020, she resumed at the HKEX as head of listings and was promoted to co-chief operating officer earlier this year.
During her time at Davis Polk’s Hong Kong office, Chan notably expanded the team from 30 to 100. In 2017, Chan advised on the spin-off and listing of China Literature Group, a subsidiary of Tencent, in Hong Kong raising HKD7.17 billion.
Chan has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law from the University of Hong Kong and Harvard University, respectively. Chan is also qualified to practice in New York and Hong Kong.
