Effective October 1, 2011, Ashley Alder will replace Martin Wheatley as Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for a three-year term. Mr. Alder is currently a senior partner of an international law firm and head of its Asian division, specializing in areas of capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, regulation and compliance. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Executive Director of the Corporate Finance Division at the SFC.
Given Mr Alder’s extensive knowledge and experience in the Hong Kong financial market and at the SFC, he will be in the best position to ensure that the SFC continues to fulfil its statutory objectives to safeguard investors, enhance market transparency and help develop Hong Kong as an international financial center,” said the SFC’s Chairman Dr Eddy Fong.
Mr. Alder has indicated that the SFC has established its reputation as a world-class financial regulator and he wants to ensure that the SFC continues to strengthen the regulatory framework of Hong Kong, and to enhance investor protection while facilitating Hong Kong’s development as a leading international financial center.
Mr Alder graduated from London University with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1982, and obtained his Master of Laws degree from Cambridge University in 1983. He joined Herbert Smith in 1984 and became a partner in 1994. He rejoined Herbert Smith in November 2004 after completing his three-year term as the Executive Director of the Corporate Finance Division.