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With the expansion, employees who opt for one-to-one coaching will also be matched with coaches across markets – a move OCBC said could broaden perspectives and support cross-border career mobility.
OCBC has expanded its internal coaching programme to Malaysia and Hong Kong as of April this year, as part of its push to embed coaching as a core leadership capability across the group.
The move builds on its 2025 partnership with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Singapore Chapter, and supports its goal of training 100 senior leaders to achieve the Associate Certified Coach (ICF-ACC) accreditation by end-2027.
To qualify, leaders must complete 60 hours of coaching education, 100 hours of coaching practice, and 10 hours of mentor coaching.
An initial 25 senior leaders from Malaysia and Hong Kong will begin the accreditation process, joining 62 leaders in Singapore – bringing OCBC’s internal coaching pool to more than 85 senior leaders across the three markets.
With the programme underway, OCBC employees will be able to opt in for one-to-one coaching, comprising at least three sessions of around an hour each. The bank said these sessions provide a confidential space for employees to reflect on career goals, explore mobility, and build resilience.
Nearly 300 employees in Singapore have participated since the programme’s launch. With the expansion, employees will also be matched with coaches across markets – a move OCBC said could broaden perspectives and support cross-border career mobility.
Lee Hwee Boon, Head of Group Human Resources, OCBC, said the initiative reflects a broader shift in leadership expectations.
"Leadership has evolved from a focus on task management to one centred on people development and resource orchestration. It is hence important that we embed coaching as a core leadership capability."
Sharing his views on joining the programme, Ainu Yakin Binti Azizi, Executive Director, Global Markets – Investment Solutions, OCBC Malaysia, said: "Becoming a coach is a two-way journey that allows leaders to grow beyond their own roles. By walking alongside colleagues as they explore their potential and career possibilities, I am also strengthening my own leadership, sense of purpose and self-awareness.
Fellow participant Alfred Ho, Head of Internal Audit, OCBC Hong Kong, added: "Good leadership isn’t just about what you deliver – it's about who you help grow along the way. This programme has given me a structured path to develop practical coaching skills, and I’m committed to putting in the hours to earn the accreditation."
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