When Vivien Hsu Woan-Meei became president of Fubon Financial Holdings in October 2013 she set about restructuring the bank and reshuffling management to improve operational efficiencies and lift profitability.
It was during her tenure that Fubon became the first Taiwanese financial holdings company to take ownership of a mainland Chinese bank following its acquisition of First Sino Bank, now called Fubon Bank (China).
The transaction was completed in 2014 and Hsu participated in the settlement process to successfully close the transaction — no small feat considering the potential sticking points a deal between a Taiwanese financial institution and mainland Chinese bank could encounter given the problematic history of cross-straits relations.
Fubon is also keen to become the first Taiwan entity to secure regulatory approval to buy a Chinese futures firm. It is targeting Huishang Futures, FinanceAsia recently reported.
Fubon Financial Holdings under Hsu’s leadership has nevertheless gone on to deliver robust results since then, holding the title as the most profitable financial holding company in Taiwan for six consecutive years.
Hsu became a director of Fubon in 2014, a banner year for the company in which it recorded year-on-year growth of 56%, according to the bank's 2014 annual report.
The bank’s share price and market capitalisation reached historical highs in 2015, a reflection of the market’s faith in how the bank is being managed.
Hsu is also playing a critical role in planning Fubon’s regional expansion. The bank’s goal, under her presidency, is to become a leading financial institution in Asia.
FinanceAsia’s 2015 honour roll of the most influential women across the Asia Pacific region spans investment and commercial bankers.
Published as a feature in the July / August 2015 print edition of FinanceAsia, the series also presents leading women in new areas of finance such as fintech where Asian companies are among the fastest-growing in the world.
We also canvassed corporate financiers for exceptional women working in deal advisory including lawyers and accountants. In the process of researching the series, we found evidence of progress in creating more diverse workplaces in the region.
This article has been updated from an earlier version published in FinanceAsia's July/August 2015 edition to reflect that Fubon Financial Holdings has been the most profitable holding company in Taiwan for 6 consecutive years and recorded year-on-year growth of 56%.
