Wee Ee Cheong

Wee Ee Cheong is one of three heirs of the late banker Wee Cho Yaw, who was chairman emeritus of United Overseas Bank when he died in February 2024 at the age of 95.

With over four decades of experience in the financial sector, the deputy chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Overseas Bank has been with the company since 1979.

The banking veteran was appointed deputy chairman in March 2000 and later assumed the position of CEO in April 2007.

At a media briefing in August 2024, Wee said UOB has a succession plan in place. Speaking about his retirement plans, he said retiring is a “matter of time” for everyone, and “no one is indispensable”.

He also sits on the boards of several UOB subsidiaries including United Overseas Insurance, PT Bank UOB Indonesia, United Overseas Bank (China), United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company and United Overseas Bank (Malaysia). He was also formerly a director of Far Eastern Bank.

Wee was appointed to the Board on 3 January 1990 and last re-elected as a director on April 21, 2023. He is a member of the Board Risk Management Committee, Executive Committee and Nominating Committee.

He is also a council member of The Association of Banks in Singapore and The Institute of Banking and Finance. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Singapore-China Foundation and an Honorary Council Member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was previously Deputy Chairman of the Housing and Development Board and a director of the Port of Singapore Authority, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, UOL Group and United International Securities, and a member of the Visa AP Senior Client Council.

An art enthusiast, Wee is the Patron of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and director of the Wee Foundation.

In 2013, he was awarded the Public Service Star for his contributions to the financial industry. In 2022, Wee was conferred The Asian Banker CEO Leadership Achievement for Singapore Award and named the Best CEO (large cap listed companies) by the Singapore Institute of Directors for his outstanding leadership.

He is a graduate of the American University in Washington, DC, and holds a Bachelor of Science (Business Administration) and a Master of Arts (Applied Economics).