Mr Hale, Chairman and Non-Executive Independent Director of the Board, holds directorship positions in a number of large corporations, including CapitaLand Limited, The Ascott Group Limited, Sembcorp Industries Ltd and Wheelock Properties (Singapore) Limited, all of which are listed on the SGX-ST. Mr Hale began his career with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd in October 1958, and has accumulated vast experience in the banking industry, having served in major markets like London, Paris, Hong Kong, Germany, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore. He was CEO Singapore and an executive director of the bank and retired in March 1995. From July 1995 to September 1997, Mr Hale served as Adviser on Environmental Matters to HSBC Holdings plc, and was based in Singapore. He also served as Chairman of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce from 1993 to 1994, and as the Executive Chairman of SNP Corporation Ltd from April 1999 to April 2000. Mr Hale was also formerly a Governor of United World College of South East Asia, Singapore. Mr Hale is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Directors, as well as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London.