Executive Director, Blockchain, Digital Assets & Emerging Technologies, Innovation Group

Company: 1011 United Overseas Bank Ltd

About UOB

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is a leading bank in Asia with a global network of more than 500 branches and offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. In Asia, we operate through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as branches and offices. Our history spans more than 80 years. Over this time, we have been guided by our values – Honorable, Enterprising, United and Committed. This means we always strive to do what is right, build for the future, work as one team and pursue long-term success. It is how we work, consistently, be it towards the company, our colleagues or our customers.

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Executive Director leads the commercialisation of blockchain initiatives and industry pilots across digital assets and digital currencies, while driving applied innovation in quantum computing and other strategic emerging technologies. The role converts market developments and experimentation into governed, scalable and commercially viable capabilities for UOB, balancing customer and business value with regulatory, technology, operational and risk requirements. As part of the Innovation Group, the role provides senior domain leadership, orchestrates enterprise and ecosystem partners, and builds a disciplined pathway from research and proof-of-concept to production, adoption and measurable value.

Key Responsibilities

• Own strategy and portfolio: shape and execute the roadmap, operating plan and investment priorities for blockchain, tokenisation, digital assets, digital currencies, quantum computing and selected emerging technologies, aligned with UOB’s enterprise and regional priorities.
• Drive commercialisation: identify customer and business opportunities; define value propositions, target segments, product constructs, operating models, business cases and go-to-market pathways; establish clear commercial, adoption and value-realisation measures.
• Lead pilots from concept to scale: sponsor research, proofs-of-concept, prototypes and industry pilots; apply stage gates covering strategic fit, customer value, feasibility, economics, risk and readiness; transition successful initiatives into production with accountable business and technology owners.
• Advance tokenised finance capabilities: lead initiatives across tokenised money and assets, including tokenised deposits, regulated stablecoins, wholesale central bank digital currency, custody, tokenisation, settlement and interoperability, where aligned with approved strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Build ecosystem and industry leadership: represent UOB in relevant regulator, industry and standards engagements; develop partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, technology providers, market infrastructures, academia and public-sector bodies; structure collaborations with clear outcomes, governance and commercial terms.
• Drive quantum and advanced-computing innovation: develop a prioritised portfolio of quantum, quantum-inspired and hybrid computing applications; focus experimentation on defined banking problems; assess business advantage, technical feasibility, security implications and transition paths.
• Embed risk and control by design: partner Legal, Compliance, Risk, Cyber Security, Data, Technology Risk, Operations and Audit stakeholders to address regulatory interpretation, financial crime, privacy, resilience, third-party, model and technology risks throughout the lifecycle.
• Orchestrate enterprise delivery: align Business, GTO, Operations, Finance, Marketing, country teams and domain specialists on requirements, architecture, funding, delivery sequencing, service ownership, controls and adoption; resolve senior-level dependencies and issues.
• Provide market intelligence and executive advice: monitor regulatory, competitive and technology developments; translate implications into concise recommendations for senior management; communicate the benefits, limitations, risks and strategic choices of emerging technologies.
• Build capability and lead talent: develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team and practitioner network; strengthen product, commercial, technical and risk fluency through coaching, knowledge assets and collaboration with the Innovation Academy.

Experience and Capabilities

• 15+ years of relevant experience in banking, payments, capital markets, transaction banking, financial market infrastructure, technology, product management, strategy or innovation, including substantial leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience taking complex technology or digital-finance initiatives from strategy and experimentation through pilot, regulatory engagement, implementation and commercial adoption.
• Deep working knowledge of blockchain and distributed ledger technology, tokenisation, digital assets, digital currencies and associated market, operating, control and regulatory considerations.
• Strong appreciation of quantum computing, quantum-inspired optimisation, hybrid computing and their potential financial-services applications; able to distinguish research promise from enterprise-ready opportunity.
• Commercial and product leadership, including opportunity assessment, customer discovery, business cases, partnership models, economics, prioritisation, go-to-market planning and benefits tracking.
• Credible senior stakeholder management across business, technology, operations, risk, legal, compliance, finance, regulators, clients and external partners; strong written communication and executive storytelling.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. An advanced degree or recognised professional qualification in technology, engineering, computer science, finance, business or a related discipline is advantageous.

Success Measures

• Approved strategy and a transparent, prioritised portfolio with disciplined stage-gate decisions and clear ownership.
• High-quality pilots converted into production capabilities, customer propositions or reusable enterprise assets with evidenced adoption and value.
• Commercial outcomes supported by robust business cases, operating models, risk controls and measurable financial or strategic benefits.
• Effective participation in industry initiatives and partnerships that strengthens UOB’s capabilities, optionality and position in tokenised finance and emerging technologies.
• A credible quantum and emerging-technology pipeline focused on material banking use cases, with clear continue, pivot or stop decisions.
• Strong governance, audit-ready documentation, timely issue escalation, effective talent development and trusted senior stakeholder engagement.

Personal Attributes

• Enterprise-minded and commercially oriented technology leader with sound judgement, intellectual curiosity, disciplined execution and high integrity.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, challenging assumptions and making evidence-based trade-offs while maintaining customer focus, regulatory awareness and stakeholder trust.

Additional Requirements

Develop, Engage, Execute, Strategise

Be a Part of the UOB Family

UOB is an equal opportunity employer. UOB does not discriminate on the basis of a candidate's age, race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or other non-merit factors. All employment decisions at UOB are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications. If you require any assistance or accommodations to be made for the recruitment process, please inform us when you submit your online application.

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