Tomorrow’s private bankers need integrated skills in AI, cross-border regulation, complex wealth structures, and next-gen engagement—embedded across the whole institution as one continuous, fused upskilling discipline, not separate trainings.
IBF Distinguished Fellow (2026), Private Banking & Wealth Management
Robin Heng Cheng Liang
Vice Chairman of Southeast Asia and Deputy Regional Business Head, Southeast Asia,EFG Bank AG (Singapore Branch)
Biography
Robin is a veteran private banker with over 30 years of experience and is currently the Vice Chairman & Deputy Regional Business Head for SEA, EFG Bank AG. Prior to that, he was Co‑Head, Singapore Hub at Bank of Singapore, where he led around 400 private banking professionals and drove strategic growth across key ASEAN markets including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Indochina. He played a pivotal role in major regional developments, notably the 2016 acquisition and integration of Barclays’ Asian private banking business and the 2017 establishment of OCBC NISP’s onshore private banking unit in Indonesia.
Beyond his institutional responsibilities, Robin has made significant contributions to the development of the financial industry, particularly in private banking and family offices. He serves as Chairman of the IBF Private Banking and Family Office Workgroup and is a member of the IBF Standards Committee, helping shape industry standards, certification and continuous professional development. He supported the Wealth Management Institute in developing its Family Office program and was recognized in 2019 for his efforts in uplifting industry talent.
Robin has been deeply involved in competency and job transformation initiatives, including chairing the CACS Examination Board to redesign CACS modules and examinations, and contributing to the Job Transformation Map for Financial Services, which addresses the impact of data analytics, automation and sustainable finance skills, as well as ongoing work on Generative AI skills validation. He was conferred the IBF Fellow Award in 2016.