Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) has appointed banking veteran Melvyn Low as group chief strategy and transformation officer with effect from Nov 10.
Low is an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience and has held senior positions in cash management, trade and securities services in regional and global banks, OCBC notes. He led the Singapore banks in 2021 in the development and launch of the linkage between Singapore’s and Thailand’s national fast payment systems — the PayNow-PromptPay linkage.
In his new role at OCBC, Low will drive the bank’s long-term strategic roadmap, focusing on future-proofing the group’s businesses and identifying new growth engines.
Low has been leading the bank’s global transaction banking division since 2018, and under his leadership, the division’s total income has grown twofold in the past five years.
The regional target of 500 mandates in Greater China was exceeded two years ahead of time, securing close to 600 as of June 2025.
Under Low, the bank has rolled out many solutions for its corporate and SME customers, including the virtual purchasing card that can be provisioned into mobile wallets, and a next-generation blockchain-based conditional payments solution that facilitates the disbursement of mobilisation advance payments for the construction industry.
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Low was given the title of IBF Distinguished Fellow which recognises industry captains who have demonstrated outstanding leadership capabilities, professionalism, and who have
contributed significantly to the industry.
He is currently the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Governance of PayNow Cross-Border Linkages and also serves as a board member of the Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) and the Singapore Trade Data Exchange.
“Melvyn’s solid track record in innovation and transformation, combined with his first-hand knowledge of OCBC Group’s diversity and synergistic strengths as an integrated financial services powerhouse, makes him the most suitable person to take on this role. His appointment affirms the bench strength we have and the mobility of our people in taking on new roles,” says Helen Wong, group CEO of OCBC.
Shares in OCBC closed 3 cents higher or 0.176% up at $17.06 on Nov 5.
