Standard Chartered named a new Australia boss, filling the vacancy left by the move of the CEO to a role heading the Philippines and the ASEAN cluster of countries.

Standard Chartered has appointed a new chief executive for its business in Australia: Jacob Berman.

Berman is taking the helm from Mike Samson, who has been made CEO of Standard Chartered Philippines and head of client coverage for the Philippines and the ASEAN region of countries in Southeast Asia.

Bringing more than two decades’ corporate and investment banking experience to the rule, Berman joined Standard Chartered Singapore in 2012 and was reassigned to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in 2014 as managing director, global banking. In 2019, Berman was appointed head of client coverage, Japan, a position he held prior to this appointment as Australia CEO.

The UK-listed bank, which earns the bulk of its revenues in regions such as Asia and Africa, has operated in Australia for more than 60 years. 

“Australia holds strategic importance for Standard Chartered. We see immense opportunities to expand our presence in Australia and we remain committed to invest resources and technology to enhance our footprint here,” Rino Donosepoetro, who has been appointed cluster CEO, Indonesia and ASEAN Markets (Australia, Brunei and the Philippines), said. (His appointment is subject to regulatory clearance.)

In early January, Standard Chartered appointed Sidney Wang as managing director, marketing head – Greater China, for its private banking business. Among recent developments, in November, Standard Chartered unveiled the grand opening of its first “priority private centre” in mainland China. Situated in Shanghai’s central business district, the centre caters to high net worth clients.