The expansion strengthens OCBC’s commitment to building a Group‑wide coaching culture and a skills‑first workplace.

Singapore, 6 May 2026 – OCBC Group has expanded its coaching programme to Malaysia and Hong Kong in April 2026, strengthening its commitment to building a Group-wide coaching culture and a skills-first workplace.

This expansion continues OCBC’s momentum towards training 100 senior leaders to attain the International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach (ICF-ACC) accreditation by end-2027 – an ambition announced in 2025 when OCBC established a strategic partnership with the ICF Singapore Chapter. The partnership was the first between the global coaching body and a financial institution in Singapore.

To achieve the ICF-ACC credential, OCBC’s senior leaders must complete a rigorous coaching development programme, clocking 60 hours of coaching education, 100 hours of coaching practice and 10 hours of mentor coaching. For a start, 25 senior leaders from across the Group in Malaysia and Hong Kong will embark on the process of getting accredited. They join an existing cohort of 62 in Singapore, bringing OCBC’s internal coaching pool to more than 85 senior leaders across three key markets. By growing a pool of senior leaders who are trained and certified as coaches, OCBC is embedding coaching as a core leadership capability – empowering employees to learn, grow and succeed in a fast-changing environment.

Strengthening employee development through 1-1 coaching

Employees across the Group can sign up for 1-1 coaching. This is a commitment that entails at least three personalised coaching sessions, with each session typically lasting for around 1 hour. These sessions offer employees a confidential space to reflect on their career goals, explore mobility opportunities and build resilience. Nearly 300 employees in Singapore have already benefited from the programme since its launch.

With the expansion to Malaysia and Hong Kong, employees will now have access to a wider pool of OCBC internal coaches. Coach-coachee pairings that cross borders can lead to broader perspectives and support employees interested in exploring roles across different markets.

Ainul Yakin Binti Azizi, Executive Director, Global Markets - Investment Solutions, OCBC Malaysia, said, “Becoming a coach is a two-way journey that allows leaders to grow beyond their own roles. By walking alongside colleagues as they explore their potential and career possibilities, I am also strengthening my own leadership, sense of purpose and self-awareness. This mutual growth is what drew me to the programme, and I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the development of others.”

Alfred Ho, Head of Internal Audit, OCBC Hong Kong said, "Good leadership isn’t just about what you deliver – it’s about who you help grow along the way. This programme has given me a structured path to develop practical coaching skills, and I’m committed to putting in the hours to earn the accreditation. I hope to be a resource that colleagues across the Group can genuinely benefit from."

Lee Hwee Boon, Head of Group Human Resources, OCBC said, “Leadership has evolved from a focus on task management to one centred on people development and resource orchestration. It is hence important that we embed coaching as a core leadership capability. Following the launch of our strategic partnership with ICF last year to Singapore colleagues, we have quickly expanded to Malaysia and Hong Kong to accelerate the build-up of our internal coaching pool. This marks an important step in strengthening resilience while fostering a more agile and future ready workforce across OCBC Group.”