Markets Media spoke with Yuen May Chan, Deputy Group CEO and Co-Group CFO at CGS International Securities Group, who won Excellence in Operations at the 2025 Women in Finance Asia Awards.

Please tell us about your role at CGS International Securities and how it’s evolved over time.

In my current role as Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Group Chief Financial Officer, I lead strategic financial initiatives and drive transformation programmes, particularly as we integrate the Group’s business with our parent company, China Galaxy Securities (CGS). A core part of my responsibilities is ensuring our operational infrastructure keeps pace with growth as we position CGS International as Asia’s Global Investment House.

When I first joined in 2005, the company was much smaller and solely focused on brokerage. We have come a long way; today, we have over 2,200 employees across 15 markets, and are a one-stop shop for financial services.  Just as the company has grown, my role has grown as well. Over the years, I have expanded my portfolio to include International Business, Business Process & Assurance, and Brand & Marketing, among many others. I view each new addition as an opportunity to push the boundaries of what I can learn and contribute.  It is important to stay ahead of the curve, whether that is rolling out AI-powered Anti-Money Laundering systems, enterprise-wide digital transformation, or spearheading the rollout of new funding avenues such as commercial paper issuances.

You’ve led major efforts to streamline operations and unlock growth. How do you approach driving change that benefits both the business and its clients?

To me, it’s not a trade-off. Satisfied clients are often the best indicator that your business is growing in the right direction. Operational excellence directly feeds into client confidence, and vice versa.

I’ve led several Group-wide initiatives to strengthen both our risk posture and efficiency, which includes a comprehensive anti-bribery programme, and a zero-tolerance stance on misconduct. These safeguard our business and reinforce trust from our clients.

A seamless operational workflow is essential to keeping a company running smoothly. Therefore, I drove our move towards straight-through-processing workflows, achieving 80% automation, which has greatly increased efficiency. To keep pushing improvement, I set-up the Business Process and Assurance Department in 2024. Since then, we’ve been reviewing and reworking workflows for continuous improvements. My view is that if you don’t clear out inefficiencies, you don’t create space to think strategically or innovate further.

Between 2019 to 2023, our overall client base grew 20% and revenue has risen by over 40%. These numbers speak for themselves. For me – that is proof that operational strength and client satisfaction goes hand in hand.

What are some of the recent developments or milestones you’re most proud of?

It is not often that finance / securities firm are led by females. CGS International is one of these few; we support talent, regardless of gender, and this is apparent in our hiring policies and senior management team, and something that we are very proud of.

Personally, being recognised with the Women in Finance Asia’s “Excellence in Operations” award is an honour, but more importantly, it motivates me to continue driving results and supporting the next generation of female leaders in finance.

What do you enjoy most about your day-to-day work?

I enjoy translating big-picture business plans into real, measurable results and seeing how it drives productivity and operational efficiencies. It’s one thing to have a vision but the real impact comes from when the vision is translated into outcomes that drives CGS International forward. No two days are ever the same but seeing how our efforts improve our operational workflows and brings better experiences to our clients makes it worthwhile.

The financial services landscape is constantly shifting, with modern technologies, regulations, and client needs emerging. Alongside Carol, our Group CEO, I enjoy the challenge of leading the Group to stay at the front of the curve and seeing how our efforts position us strongly as the financial gateway in Asia.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in this field today?

It’s natural to feel unsure when you are just starting out. Take the first step and commit to learning along the way. Knowledge compounds so the more you expose yourself to the industry and the network, the better.

As I look back on my own journey, I know I wouldn’t be here without the incredible people I have had the privilege to work alongside. To those just starting out, don’t be intimidated by those who challenge you. Surround yourself with such people, learn from them and let them inspire you to do better.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that shaped how you lead today.

That has to be when I stepped out of my comfort zone to leave my career in audit to take on a Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO) role. I was on track to making partner in just a few months, when I was approached to join the then CIMB-GK Securities as COO. At that time, many people thought I had lost my mind; I was finally close to my goal after so many years of labour. Not to mention that I had just given birth to my third child then, adding on to the challenges I would face in a totally new role.

For me, the decision didn’t feel as hard as many thought it should have been. During that time, I felt that was that most of my work so far had been done from the lens of an outsider looking into the inner workings of a company; I wanted to be on the other side, to be part of the action. Looking back, I have no regrets – the career switch in my mid-30s shifted my entire world view in a positive way; I quickly developed whole new, and diverse, skill sets. These include strategising, decision-making, and managing various groups of stakeholders, and not to mention master the many dynamic moving parts of a company’s operations. The experience has been both deeply enriching and humbling, and I remain thankful for.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?

My drive to become self-sufficient steered me towards a career in finance. This drive developed during my college days – back then, I studied in Australia, and my father gave me a yearly allowance after “fighting” and insisting on it. During that time, my pride was stronger than my cash management – I ran out of money before the year ended and ended up living on a A$2 chicken roll for lunch and dinner every day for two months, simply because I refused to admit that I had not managed my allowance properly.

The silver lining was that the experience drilled into me the importance of financial management, a skill I honed further as I moved into a career in finance. Today, I’m glad to pass on this skill to my children and staff as well.