Bonnie Y Chan

Bonnie Y Chan made history in 2024 when she was appointed CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), becoming the first woman to serve in the role. With a career spanning top-tier legal firms, international banks, and regulatory bodies, Chan is recognised as a transformative leader in Hong Kong’s financial and legal sectors.

Chan began her career in 1993 as a lawyer at the Hong Kong-based firm Deacons, before moving to Sullivan & Cromwell, where she practiced law in both Hong Kong and the US In the early 2000s, she transitioned to an in-house counsel role at Morgan Stanley, gaining significant experience in global financial services. Chan first joined HKEX in 2007 as head of IPO Transactions and Listing, later advancing to a partner position at the international law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell in 2010, where she spent nine years.

In 2020, Chan returned to HKEX as Head of Listing, and in 2023, she was promoted to Co-Chief Operating Officer. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving key reforms, including the introduction of Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listings in 2022 and the creation of the Chapter 18C listing regime in 2023, which enables pre-revenue, specialist technology companies to list. Additionally, Chan spearheaded the launch of the Fast Interface for New Issuance (FINI) system in November 2023, significantly reducing the IPO settlement cycle from five days to two.

Chan is an active contributor to global financial discourse, regularly participating in the World Economic Forum and serving as a member of its Centre for Financial and Monetary Systems Advisory Council. In Hong Kong, she has contributed to the financial sector as a member of the Financial Services Development Council (2015-2018) and as a board member between 2019 and 2020. She has also served on the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform and the Disciplinary Panel of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Chan holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School.