HK Finance Sector Sees Rise of Women in Senior Leadership Roles

By: WE staff | Tuesday, 28 October 2025

• Senior positions in Hong Kong's financial industry are occupied by more women today
• The increase is associated with new regulations and firm initiatives to promote gender diversity
• Women occupy 45% of senior roles, such as CEOs and managing directors

Hong Kong's financial sector has seen a consistent increase in the number of women in top leadership positions and board directorships over the past few years, backed by regulatory changes and company initiatives to foster gender diversity, based on a survey published on Tuesday.

The survey, released together by the Women Chief Executive Network, KPMG, and The Women's Foundation, revealed that women hold 45 percent of senior management roles—CEOs, managing directors, and senior executives—among banks, asset management companies, insurance companies, and fintech companies. That is an 11 percent point growth from 34 percent in 2018.

Similarly, 37 percent of financial sector board directors in Hong Kong are now female, a rise of 16 percentage points from 21 percent in 2018.

The data are derived from employment records of 24 member companies in the Women Chief Executive Network and a July-April survey of 532 financial professionals.

The network comprises 60 executive women from key financial establishments like UBS, Standard Chartered, and Citigroup. Some of the prominent members are Amy Lo Choi-wan (UBS), Mary Huen Wai-yi (Standard Chartered), Aveline San Pau-len (Citi), and Bonnie Chan Yiting (HKEX).

Respondents voted Hong Kong as the number one world financial centre for its society's embrace of women in top jobs. Around 76 percent also cited the city's safety as an important element sustaining women's career development.

Hong Kong's entrepreneurial and open economy naturally accommodates diversity, enabling women to lead with authenticity and confidence, says Amy Lo, Chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia.

To further underscore women's leadership in business, the inaugural Women Chief Executives Summit 2025 will take place on November 3, preceding the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which will host 300 global banking leaders.

The report reported that regulatory changes, especially the issuance of new HKEX guidelines for board diversity, have cut the number of listed companies without female directors substantially.

Challenges persist. While 77 percent of women in junior financial careers report they are supported in seeking leadership roles, this figure falls to 59 percent among mid-career professionals.

The report indicated that organisational support can be reinforced through better parental leave and mental health measures.

It also stated that increased use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in banking provides more chances for women to progress professionally.