Unfinished business

Ronald Ong, Morgan Stanley's chairman and chief executive for South-east Asia, isn't handing over the reins just yet as he wants to see through growth plans. And if he were to rewrite a brand new business for the investment bank today for its next phase, he would, he says, put a lot more emphasis on wealth management.

Published Fri, Aug 16, 2019 · 09:50 PM

Morgan Stanley

FOUR years after he began looking for a successor within the firm, Ronald Ong, Morgan Stanley's chairman and chief executive for South-east Asia, says he has now found a few candidates, whom he is observing.

"I continue to look out for talent. I continue to groom potential successors. But at this point in time, I'm not ready to name a successor," says the 63-year-old. "I have not found a single person, but there are a few hopefuls."

Asked if any are Singaporeans, the veteran banker says "some of them" are. By his count, he currently has people of about 15 different nationalities working with him in investment banking; at the peak, there were about 22.

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