Live to Lead: DBS Treasures Private Client marks 15 years of leadership and shaping the future of wealth

In his opening address, Shee Tse Koon, DBS’ group executive and group head of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, reflected on the scale of DBS TPC’s journey over the past 15 years.

At a time when private banking propositions were largely segmented by Assets Under Management (AUM), DBS sought to challenge convention. “You deserved a proposition built around you, not around just your AUM threshold,” Shee shared, underscoring the bank’s longstanding belief that wealth management should be tailored around the individual needs and ambitions of clients. Over the past decade and a half, that philosophy has evolved into what DBS describes as a wealth management continuum—one designed to support clients “wherever they start and wherever they progress”. Shee elaborated on how the platform has expanded far beyond traditional investment access, with DBS offering clients pathways into private markets, alternative investments and digital assets that reflect the increasingly sophisticated needs of today’s HNW individuals. Among the bank’s defining moves was the launch of what Shee described as “the world’s first bank -backed digital exchange”, a regulated gateway into digital assets introduced years before many global private banks had fully embraced the asset class. Today, more than a third of the exchange’s clients are HNW or UHNW individuals, with crypto holdings on the platform now exceeding gold holdings within client portfolios.

That development has been duly noted. Beyond its recent accolades, DBS was also named the World’s Safest Private Bank by Euromoney. The recognition builds on an extraordinary track record, with DBS having also been recognised as Asia’s Safest Bank for 17 consecutive years by Global Finance.

Shee attributed the achievement to client trust: “We couldn’t have achieved [such] recognition without the trust and the support that many of our clients like you have shown and given to us.”

If the evening’s speeches reflected DBS TPC’s philosophy of thoughtful stewardship, the culinary programme offered its sensory counterpart. Guests were treated to a five‑course dinner that unfolded like a carefully paced narrative—one rooted in precision, heritage and cultural dialogue.

At the centre of the experience was acclaimed South Korean chef Son Jong‑won, the culinary force behind Seoul’s one‑Michelin‑starred Eatanic Garden and L’Amant Secret. Known for his elegant and refined interpretation of Korean cuisine, chef Son has gained wider public recognition through appearances on television shows such as Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars and Please Take Care of My Refrigerator. Addressing guests before dinner, chef Son warmly reflected on his connection to Singapore. “Singapore means a lot to me,” he shared. “It was the first country I got to cook [in] abroad.” Created exclusively for the occasion, the evening’s menu drew heavily from his experiences with Singaporean cuisine, which he described as “a great harmony” between Singaporean and Korean culinary traditions .

That harmony revealed itself course by course. The meal opened with a crisp potato and gamtae seaweed bugak, followed by sweet prawn teamed with tropical citrus and caviar—a dish that balanced brightness with delicacy. Familiar local flavours appeared throughout the menu, most notably in chef Son’s reinterpretation of bak kut teh, elevated with Hanwoo beef and abalone. Equally memorable was the chicken rice‑inspired samgyetang, which bridged two beloved culinary traditions through warm, nourishing flavours. Dessert arrived in the form of a pandan and mugwort bumoori, before a final selection of petite hangwa (traditional Korean confections) concluded the evening on a sweet note.

As dinner advanced, the evening shifted to a broader reflection on ambition, progress and the evolving meaning of wealth. Guests were given an exclusive first look at DBS TPC’s latest brand film, centred around the evening’s theme, “Live to Lead”. The brand film served as a natural segue into the evening’s next segment, led by Marcus Teo, senior market head of DBS TPC, who turned the conversation towards the future of wealth management and what clients can expect from the next chapter of DBS TPC.

Speaking candidly about a landscape increasingly shaped by volatility and evolving client expectations, Teo outlined how DBS continues to expand its suite of investment solutions to help clients build more resilient and diversified portfolios.

At the same time, he emphasised that the future of DBS TPC would be driven as much by advisory and technology as by investment access. He added that DBS will continue to invest heavily in digital capabilities and AI to deliver more timely, personalised insights and engagement. Teo stressed that these innovations are intended to deepen, not replace, the human element of wealth management.

“Far from making relationship managers irrelevant, digital platforms free up more time and space for higher‑value conversations,” he said. “They allow us to have a deeper understanding of your needs, thereby curating the right solutions and premium experiences.” Looking ahead, Teo also shared how DBS TPC intends to further strengthen its ecosystem of curated experiences and client communities—be it through private forums, thought leadership events or networking opportunities— reflecting a growing desire among today’s HNW individuals for meaningful connections that extend beyond banking alone.

As the evening drew to a close, the atmosphere in the ballroom took on a celebratory warmth. Shee and Teo returned to the stage alongside Joseph Poon, managing director and group head of DBS Private Bank, and Jeff Wong, senior market head of DBS TPC, for a commemorative champagne toast marking DBS TPC’s 15‑year milestone. Glasses were raised not just to its achievements, but also to the clients, relationships and shared journeys that have shaped its evolution over the past decade and a half.

As guests departed the venue with gifts—a custom DBS TPC tea blend, Pierre Hermé macarons, and fact sheets highlighting 15 years of accolades and future vision—it was clear the event was not a farewell to the past, but an invitation into the next chapter.

“Live to Lead” is, ultimately, a statement of intent. It speaks to DBS TPC’s vision of wealth that is not merely accumulated, but also actively led—guided by insight, shaped by experience and grounded in purpose. In the global landscape, where complexity is the only constant, that is perhaps the most confident statement of all.

To learn more about DBS Treasures Private Client and its vision for confident wealth leadership, visit the website here.

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