Thomas’ career journey is a testament to the power of embracing challenges, internal mobility, and cultivating strong stakeholder relationships. From his early days at GE Commercial Finance to key leadership roles at OCBC across Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong, Thomas has demonstrated how a win-win mindset can drive equitable outcomes and shape the future of banking.

From GE Commercial Finance to OCBC: A Career Built on Growth and Innovation

Thomas began his professional journey at GE Commercial Finance, where he spent nearly a decade honing his skills in sales, marketing, and collections. In 2004, he took a pivotal step by joining OCBC as Programme and Marketing Head, focusing on the Emerging and Enterprise Banking (EmB) segments. Under the guidance of senior leaders like Mr Tan Chor Sen, Thomas was part of Project Egg — a transformative initiative aimed tat rethinking SME banking. Moving beyond traditional banking models, the team pioneered innovative, scalable solutions such as establishing eight Business Banking desks in SME-centric branches and launching an SME-focused branch in Ubi tailored to business needs.

Expanding Horizons: Leading Across Markets and Portfolios

In 2010, Thomas relocated to Indonesia to extend the EmB model, marking his first major international assignment. This role broadened his exposure to diverse markets and cultural contexts. Later, he took on the responsibility of managing the Consumer portfolio, a significant pivot that involved overseeing a wide range of products including cash, loans, credit cards, and housing loans across three time zones. This expanded scope accelerated his growth, culminating in his appointment as Retail Banking Director.

After 12 years abroad, Thomas returned to Singapore to lead the EMB International portfolio. His mission was to align the regional EmB model with higher standards of efficiency, productivity, and risk management while fostering greater collaboration under the One Group strategy. However, strategic needs soon led to a two-year secondment in Hong Kong, further enriching his cross-market leadership experience. In 2024, Thomas returned to Singapore to take on a new challenge: developing a groundbreaking Workplace Banking value proposition that serves both employers and employees.

The Power of Internal Mobility in Professional Development

Thomas credits internal mobility within OCBC as a cornerstone of his professional development. “Moving from Singapore to Indonesia, then to Hong Kong, and back to Singapore, allowed me to experience different markets and cultural contexts firsthand,” he shares. Each transition brought unique challenges that demanded adaptability and rapid learning. Exposure to diverse business functions—from consumer banking to SME—helped him cultivate a holistic understanding of the bank’s operations.

Being part of both Consumer Financial Services (CFS) and Global Commercial Banking (GCB), Thomas emphasises the importance of finding equitable, win-win solutions that are equitable for all stakeholders. This habit of pursuing win-win solutions has become his personal competitive advantages.

Key Skills Driving Success Through Career Pivots

Throughout his varied roles, Thomas has developed several core skills essential to his success:
•    Active Listening: Particularly vital in non-English speaking environments like Indonesia, this skill helped him interpret body language and regional nuances to better understand colleagues and customers.
•    Conflict Resolution: Managing friction between sales, legal, and risk teams required clarity, calmness, and a collaborative mindset.
•    Grounded Leadership: Thomas believes in the value of being “on the ground” to gain human insights beyond what reports and dashboards can reveal. Initiatives like “pulse lunches” enable him to connect directly with employees and understand real challenges.

Innovating Workplace Banking: Creating Value for Employers and Employees

A defining moment in Thomas’ career came during a January workshop initiated by both Linus Goh & Sunny Quek (Division Head for GCB & CFS respectively) on Workplace Banking. The team realised their existing value proposition catered only to employees, neglecting business owners. This insight sparked a collaborative effort between GCB & CFS to design a truly win-win solution. The result: a new offering that includes deeply discounted medical consultations for employees, supports cashless transactions, and digitalises the medical claim process—saving time and money for employers while enhancing employee well-being.

Advice for Navigating Career Pivots and Internal Mobility

Thomas encourages professionals to embrace opportunities that push them beyond their comfort zones, whether that means moving to a new market or taking on unfamiliar roles. He highlights the importance of building transferable skills such as communication, adaptability, and stakeholder management. Most importantly, he stresses the value of presence and active listening: “Understanding people and context is key to driving meaningful impact and building a successful career.”

Reflecting on his journey, Thomas acknowledges the immeasurable value that breadth of experience brings, “I can only do what I am doing now because I was stretched across all the various divisions.”
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Thomas’ story exemplifies how a win-win mindset, combined with a willingness to embrace change and learn continuously, can lead to remarkable career growth and meaningful contributions to the future of banking. His journey at OCBC serves as an inspiring blueprint for professionals aiming to make a lasting impact in their organisations.