Bank of Singapore’s Jean Chia Reflects on CIO Role Amid Market Turbulence

Jean Chia, Global Chief Investment Officer at Bank of Singapore, was named CIO of the Year at the 2025 Women in Finance Asia Awards. Chia credits the recognition to her willingness to embrace uncertainty after assuming the role during the COVID-19 pandemic's market upheaval.

The pandemic forced a fundamental rethink of investment strategy, Chia noted. Traditional forecasting models became obsolete as global economies faced unprecedented volatility. Her team adopted agile tactical asset allocation, leveraging digital channels like podcasts and webinars to replace in-person client engagement.

"The SAND beneath our feet kept shifting," Chia observed, describing how conventional CIO playbooks failed during the crisis. Her lack of preconceptions about the role proved advantageous when navigating black swan events and structural market changes.