As part of HKGCC’s signature “CEO 123 Tell Me More” series and its 165th anniversary celebrations, we were pleased to welcome Mary Huen, Executive Director and CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia at Standard Chartered, one of the Chamber’s founding members.
Standard Chartered Bank has held membership certificate No.000001 since 1861. This relationship, spanning more than a century and a half, symbolises remarkable loyalty and stands as a powerful testament to the deep-rooted commitment of these two historic institutions to Hong Kong’s business community. Huen, who has been with Standard Chartered since the early 1990s, brings a wealth of experience. During the talk, she shared her inspiring leadership journey, offering insights on the transformation of finance and the forces shaping its future.
She emphasised the need to always keep an eye on the macro trends and look beyond immediate challenges to identify emerging opportunities.
Huen highlighted the strategic importance of Hong Kong on the international stage and its unique economic strengths. She explored the vast opportunities arising from China’s evolving global role and economic transformation, including Chinese companies “going global”, the acceleration of RMB internationalisation and the growing role of digital assets in bridging traditional finance with the emerging digital economy.
On Hong Kong’s strengths, Huen reaffirmed that Hong Kong remains a leading fundraising hub due to exclusive capital market channels like Stock and Bond Connect. The market’s structural depth, deep liquidity and wide product variety provide wealth managers with a robust ecosystem for scaling financial solutions. Furthermore, the city’s high professional standards and concentration of expertise attract not only investors and companies, but also global corporate leaders generating a natural wealth effect. Underpinning this entire ecosystem is international market confidence, driven by Hong Kong’s robust, proven and highly respected regulatory track record. She added that as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) becomes increasingly borderless, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths will be key to charting its next chapter.
Drawing on more than three decades of experience at Standard Chartered, Huen recounted the strides made in advancing gender diversity and inclusivity within the industry over the past decade, noting it reflects Hong Kong’s DNA.
That transformation is evident across financial institutions in the city. According to KPMG research, 45% of senior leadership roles and 37% of board director positions in the sector are held by women, representing double-digit growth since 2018. The shift has been driven by regulatory reforms, greater societal acceptance, and organisational initiatives aimed at fostering gender diversity and developing female leadership within the finance industry.
Mary also shared her forward-looking insights on core leadership attributes for the next generation of leaders – the “Three C’s” – essential for navigating today’s rapidly changing financial landscape. First is Conviction, a deep commitment to one’s vision that enables leaders to steer through complex market cycles with resilience. Second is Curiosity, the internal drive for continuous learning and adapting amid disruptive technological shifts such as AI and digital assets. Finally, Connectivity mirrors Hong Kong’s role as a connector; future leaders must actively engage diverse networks, seek constant feedback, and build meaningful bridges across the global community. Chamber members participated actively in the Q&A session, engaging in lively discussions with Mary Huen on topics ranging from the convergence of artificial intelligence in banking and Standard Chartered’s digital evolution, to the potential use cases of stablecoins, among other thought-provoking themes.
The “CEO 123 Tell Me More” series is a monthly initiative designed to bring forth distinguished speakers from academic, business, and cultural circles in a relaxed, friendly setting. It provides a platform for thought leadership and meaningful dialogue on Hong Kong’s ever-evolving business landscape.