With stricter regulations and AI transforming industries, Asia’s top compliance professionals are shifting beyond conventional oversight. They are building governance into strategy, guiding innovation, and turning regulatory complexity into operational resilience and competitive advantage. This year’s 20 standout leaders illustrate how compliance functions can serve as the foundation for sustainable expansion.

Their work spans AI governance, financial regulation, data privacy, digital assets and corporate ethics. At Dyson, Meng Choo Cheah has redefined the legal department’s role as a key strategic ally in the company’s AI integration. By championing automation and AI tools, her team translated complex regulatory requirements into practical support for Dyson’s largest-ever product portfolio launch, while improving efficiency and responsiveness.

Compliance as a Strategic Advantage

Glen Chee has turned compliance into a key differentiator for Coinhako within Singapore’s heavily regulated digital asset sector. His anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) leadership has strengthened the company’s controls and supported wider scam-prevention efforts. Recognised as ALB’s 2024 Compliance Officer of the Year, Chee also earned the Singapore Police Force’s Outstanding Community Award.

At dsm-firmenich, Doris Chen overhauled compliance from a reactive function into a proactive business partner across APAC’s nutrition and beauty divisions. She established systems to identify risks earlier and developed data-privacy frameworks that reconcile global standards with China’s regulatory requirements. Connie Chu created group-wide frameworks at Aboitiz that improved coordination across businesses ranging from power and banking to food.

As compliance expectations evolve, regulators demand proactive foresight, boards prioritise risk prevention, and businesses require governance structures that adapt to technological progress. These leaders demonstrate that compliance is no longer just a safeguard—it is a driver of resilience and business growth in an era of shifting regulatory environments.

Do Thi Hang aligned F88’s operations with Vietnam’s legal requirements while supporting expansion and capital raising. She also made compliance training mandatory for more than 4,000 employees-going beyond statutory requirements to embed accountability throughout the fintech company. At Essar, Sanjeev Gemawat unified compliance and risk management systems across energy, steel, and infrastructure divisions.

Handling Regulatory Challenges for Operational Strength

Natsue Ishida rebuilt SEGA SAMMY’s compliance organisation and established group-wide governance frameworks linking business strategy with common ethical standards. Her extensive background-spanning automotive, financial services, and cosmetics-inform her approach. At DBS, Lam Chee Kin played a key role in fulfilling remediation obligations following service disruptions, collaborating closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

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Uijae Lee translated South Korea’s building energy-efficiency standards into operational policies for Veolia Korea, ensuring alignment with evolving carbon-neutrality goals. At StraitsX, Samson Leo spearheaded discussions with Singapore’s Monetary Authority on the Payment Services Act and stablecoin regulations. Under his leadership, three subsidiaries obtained Major Payment Institution licenses, and he received eight awards from the Singapore Police Force for cybercrime collaboration.

Winnie Ma designed compliance systems for Hang Lung that address Securities and Futures Commission rules, Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing criteria, and mainland China’s property regulations, supporting operations across both regions. When Malaysia mandated data-breach disclosures in 2025, Yin Ee Ong developed a company-wide response strategy for Warisan TC. Serving dual roles as Group Integrity Officer and Data Protection Officer, she integrates multiple governance domains.

Joel Pang facilitated Western Union’s regulatory approval for acquiring DASH, a digital wallet serving 1.5 million users. He also deployed AI-driven monitoring systems across jurisdictions, merging transactional support with updated compliance protocols. At Prudential Indonesia, Maria Rosalinda aligned enterprise risk and compliance frameworks with OJK requirements—including revised unit-linked product (PAYDI) rules—while advancing digital risk management and anti-fraud measures nationwide.

Glenn Seah integrates legal and compliance considerations into strategic decisions at SGX, one of Asia’s most influential exchanges. His responsibilities span equities, fixed income, currencies, and commodities, where robust governance underpins market trust. At Kyndryl, Jihyun Tak co-developed frameworks addressing governance, procurement, and accountability risks from accelerated AI adoption. She has also conducted cross-border investigations and remediation efforts, earning promotion for her contributions to ethical innovation.

Nathwarut Temprom oversees legal and government relations at Prudential Life Assurance Thailand amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. His leadership ensures continuity during a phase of intensified supervisory oversight. Michael Ting orchestrated Manulife’s re-domiciliation to Hong Kong, marking the first insurer to utilise the new framework and eliminating redundant regulatory obligations. He also implemented AI governance measures, showcasing how compliance teams can facilitate regulatory transitions and responsible innovation.

At Crypto.com, Chloe Yung manages legal and compliance for one of the world’s largest licensed cryptocurrency platforms. Her scope includes working through the intersection of Hong Kong’s SFC and Singapore’s MAS requirements, reflecting the cross-border challenges faced by digital asset firms. Zhou Jiaxing at CICC created a custom legal and compliance portal leveraging robotic process automation and AI to monitor global regulatory and enforcement developments. The tool reduces manual effort while enhancing oversight and efficiency, exemplifying technology’s role in modern compliance.

Transforming Compliance Leadership

The evolving role of chief compliance officers now demands more than traditional oversight. They are expected to provide strategic direction, moving beyond gatekeeping to actively shape business decisions. This transition requires new competencies, particularly in AI governance and data protection.