Compliance & Regulation

SFC announces re-appointment of CEO

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has announced the re-appointment of CEO Ashley Alder for a further 3-year term, effective as of 1st October 2020.

Tim Lui, Chairman, SFC, said: “I am delighted that Ashley has agreed to stay on after reconsidering his plan to step down when his current term ends.  Under Ashley’s leadership during the past nine years, the SFC has established itself as a world-class market regulator, recognised by its peers and market participants for its innovative regulatory approach and contributions to shaping global financial policies as Chair of the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).”

“In such an extraordinary time when unprecedented challenges – and opportunities – are presented ahead of us, Ashley’s vast regulatory knowledge, his standing and influence in the international fora as well as continued leadership at the SFC are all the more important to help maintain the integrity and stability of the Hong Kong financial market and significantly boost confidence of local and international investors,” continued Lui.

Ashley Adler, CEO, SFC, said: “After a careful re-assessment of the circumstances now facing Hong Kong and global economies and financial markets, and having discussed the situation with the Government, I have accepted an invitation to remain at the helm of the SFC at a time when regulatory clarity is more important than ever to ensure that the financial system functions reliably and with integrity throughout a period of exceptional stress.”

“As and when the global economy begins to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, our job is to make sure that investors remain confident that Hong Kong’s financial markets are not only fair, but also that its regulations are impartial and fit for purpose amidst what will undoubtedly be a vastly different international financial landscape.”

“To this end, the SFC will continue to be resolute, adaptive, innovative and agile in maintaining a world-class regulatory environment for Hong Kong to thrive as a premier international financial centre.  I look forward to continue working with Tim and the rest of the members of the board towards this goal in my new term,” Adler continued.

Adler has been CEO of the SFC for nearly 9 years, having first been appointed in October 2011. He began his career in London as a lawyer, and has subsequently been practising in Hong Kong for over two decades, according to the SFC website.

He was Executive Director of the SFC's Corporate Finance Division from 2001 to 2004, subsequently returning to the international law firm Herbert Smith LLP as Head of Asia.