Leaders
Board Committees
The Executive Committee comprises Mr Ooi Sang Kuang (Chairman), Dr Lee Tih Shih, Mr Quah Wee Ghee, Mr Tan Ngiap Joo, Mr Samuel N. Tsien and Mr Wee Joo Yeow. A majority of the Committee, i.e. Mr Ooi Sang Kuang, Mr Quah Wee Ghee, Mr Tan Ngiap Joo and Mr Wee Joo Yeow, are independent Directors.
The Committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members.
The Executive Committee oversees – within the parameters delegated by the Board – the management of the business and affairs of the Bank and the Group. It reviews the Bank’s policies, principles, strategies, values, objectives and performance targets. These include investment and divestment policies. It also endorses such other matters and initiates such special reviews and actions as are appropriate for the prudent management of the Bank.
The Nominating Committee comprises Mr Tan Ngiap Joo (Chairman), Mr Ooi Sang Kuang, Mr Lai Teck Poh, Dr Lee Tih Shih and Mr Wee Joo Yeow. A majority of the Committee, i.e. Mr Tan Ngiap Joo, Mr Ooi Sang Kuang, Mr Lai Teck Poh and Mr Wee Joo Yeow, are independent Directors.
The Committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members.
The Nominating Committee plays a vital role in reinforcing the principles of transparency and meritocracy at the Bank. It plans for board succession and ensures that only the most competent individuals capable of contributing to the success of the organisation are appointed. This includes reviewing all nominations for the appointment, election or reelection – as well as resignations – of Directors of the Bank and members of the Executive Committee, Remuneration Committee, Audit Committee and Risk Management Committee. The Nominating Committee is also charged with determining annually whether or not a Director is independent, capable of carrying out the relevant duties and qualified to remain in office. In addition, it reviews nominations for and dismissals or resignations of senior management positions in the Bank, including the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Information Officer (Head, Group Operations and Technology). It makes recommendations to the Board on all such appointments, including the compensation package for offer of employment, promotion and cessation of employment. The Nominating Committee reviews obligations arising in the event of the termination of the contracts of service of executive Directors and senior management, to ensure such contracts contain fair and reasonable termination clauses.
The Audit Committee comprises Mr Chua Kim Chiu (Chairman), Mr Lai Teck Poh, Ms Christina Ong and Mr Tan Ngiap Joo. All the Committee members are independent Directors. Three members, including the Chairman, have recent and relevant accounting or related financial management expertise or experience. The members have not been partners or directors of KPMG, the external auditors, and none of them hold any financial interest in KPMG.
The Audit Committee performs the functions specified in the Companies Act, the Code, the SGX-ST Listing Manual and MAS’ corporate governance regulations and guidelines.
The Committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members. The Board approves the terms of reference of the Audit Committee. The Committee may meet at any time and no fewer than four times a year. It has full access to and co-operation from management, and has the discretion to invite any Director and executive officer to attend its meetings.It has explicit authority to investigate any matter within its terms of reference.
In addition to the review of the Group Financial Statements, the Audit Committee reviews and evaluates with the external auditors internal auditors, the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal controls including financial, operational, compliance and information technology controls, and risk management policies and systems. It reviews the scope and results of the audits, the costeffectiveness of the audits and the independence and objectivity of the external auditors and internal auditors. When the external auditors provide non-audit services to the Bank, the Committee keeps the nature, extent and costs of such services under review. This is to balance the objectivity of the external auditors against their ability to provide value-for-money services. The Audit Committee members keep abreast of changes to accounting standards and issues which have a direct impact on financial statements through briefings provided by internal or external subject matter experts. The Audit Committee also reviews significant financial reporting issues and judgements to ensure the integrity of the financial statements. The Committee reviews announcements relating to financial performance.
The Audit Committee is also responsible for the review of the Bank’s whistleblowing policy as well as any concerns, including anonymous complaints, which staff may in confidence raise about possible improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other matters. The Committee will ensure such concerns are independently investigated and followed up on. If it is found that there has been fraud, appropriate remedial action will be taken and the Audit Committee updated regularly on its status. The whistleblower’s interests will be safeguarded at all times, including a right to appeal to the Audit Committee if reprisals are taken against him.
The Remuneration Committee comprises Mr Wee Joo Yeow (Chairman), Mr Ooi Sang Kuang, Ms Christina Ong, Mr Quah Wee Ghee and Mr Tan Ngiap Joo. All are independent Directors well-versed in executive compensation matters, given their extensive experience in senior corporate positions and major appointments.
The Committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members.
The Remuneration Committee recommends to the Board a framework for determining the remuneration of executive officers, and reviews the remuneration practices to ensure that they are aligned with the approved framework. It is empowered to review the human resource management policies and the policies governing the compensation of executive officers of the Bank and its subsidiaries, as well as the remuneration of senior executives and Directors. In addition, the Remuneration Committee administers the various employee share ownership schemes. In its deliberations, the Remuneration Committee takes into account remuneration principles, practices and standards that may be specified by MAS from time to time.
The Risk Management Committee, which supports the Board in performing its risk oversight responsibilities, comprises Mr Lai Teck Poh (Chairman), Mr Ooi Sang Kuang, Mr Chua Kim Chiu, Mr Pramukti Surjaudaja, Mr Samuel N. Tsien and Mr Wee Joo Yeow. All the Committee members, except Mr Samuel N. Tsien, are non-executive Directors. Members of the Committee have relevant technical financial understanding in risk disciplines or business experience. Mr Lai Teck Poh and Mr Chua Kim Chiu also serve on the Audit Committee. The common membership helps to facilitate communication and foster the sharing of information and knowledge between the two committees.
The Committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members.
The Committee reviews the overall risk management philosophy, guidelines and major policies for effective risk management, including the risk profile, risk tolerance level and risk strategy. The Committee reviews the scope, effectiveness and objectivity of Group Risk Management and the risk reports that monitor and control risk exposures. It also oversees the establishment and operation of an independent risk management system for identifying, measuring, monitoring, controlling and reporting risks on an enterprise-wide basis, including ensuring the adequacy of risk management practices for material risks. The Chief Risk Officer has a direct reporting line to the Committee as well as to the CEO.
Activities performed by Risk Management Committee are also described under the caption “Risk Management” in the annual report.
The Ethics and Conduct Committee was established in January 2019 to support the Board in overseeing ethics and conduct within the Bank. The Committee comprises Mr Ooi Sang Kuang (Chairman), Dr Lee Tih Shih and Ms Christina Ong. All the Committee members are non-executive Directors.
The committee has written terms of reference that describe the responsibilities of its members.
The Committee reviews and assesses the state and implementation of ethics and conduct programs and initiatives, including matters relating to fair dealing with customers, to ensure proper behavior within the Bank in respect of ethics and conduct. It also reviews policies and guidelines pertaining to ethics and conduct to ensure they are relevant and up to date, and reviews communications to stakeholders on ethics and conduct and their effectiveness with regard to the reputation of the Bank. The Committee supports a strong and responsible organisation culture firmly founded on the Bank’s core values.
