Executive Director, Blockchain, Digital Assets & Emerging Technologies, Innovation Group

uobgroup; Singapore; On-site; SGD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is seeking an Executive Director to lead the commercialisation of blockchain initiatives, digital assets and emerging technologies. You will shape the roadmap, manage investments, and orchestrate pilots from concept to scale while balancing customer value with regulatory and risk requirements.

As part of the Innovation Group, you will build a disciplined pathway from research to production, partnering with regulators, financial institutions and technology

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in banking, payments, or financial markets.
• Deep blockchain knowledge and research-to-production experience.
• Strong leadership, strategy, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy and portfolio for blockchain, tokens, and emerging tech in line with enterprise priorities.
• Lead pilots from concept to scale, including proofs-of-concept and industry pilots.
• Build ecosystems and partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs and technology providers.
• Drive tokenised finance capabilities, settlement, custody and interoperability initiatives.
• Embed risk and regulatory considerations across the lifecycle with Legal, Compliance and Risk teams.

Job description

Company: 1011 United Overseas Bank Ltd

About UOB

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is a leading bank in ASEAN with a global network in Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Operating through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, we have a global network of about 430 branches and offices in 19 markets. At the heart of UOB is our culture, shaped by the UOB Way and anchored on our four values - Honourable, Enterprising, United and Committed. For more than 90 years, these values have guided how we do right by our customers, collaborate with one another and create long‑term value for the communities we operate in. As One Bank, we are committed to helping our colleagues build sustainable careers grounded in purpose, supported by strong values, and enriched with meaningful opportunities to grow.

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Executive Director leads the commercialisation of blockchain initiatives and industry pilots across digital assets and digital currencies, while driving applied innovation in quantum computing and other strategic emerging technologies. The role converts market developments and experimentation into governed, scalable and commercially viable capabilities for UOB, balancing customer and business value with regulatory, technology, operational and risk requirements. As part of the Innovation Group, the role provides senior domain leadership, orchestrates enterprise and ecosystem partners, and builds a disciplined pathway from research and proof‑of‑concept to production, adoption and measurable value.

Key Responsibilities

• Own strategy and portfolio: shape and execute the roadmap, operating plan and investment priorities for blockchain, tokenisation, digital assets, digital currencies, quantum computing and selected emerging technologies, aligned with UOB's enterprise and regional priorities.
• Drive commercialisation: identify customer and business opportunities; define value propositions, target segments, product constructs, operating models, business cases and go-to-market pathways; establish clear commercial, adoption and value‑realisation measures.
• Lead pilots from concept to scale: sponsor research, proofs-of‑concept, prototypes and industry pilots; apply stage gates covering strategic fit, customer value, feasibility, economics, risk and readiness; transition successful initiatives into production with accountable business and technology owners.
• Advance tokenised finance capabilities: lead initiatives across tokenised money and assets, including tokenised deposits, regulated stablecoins, wholesale central bank digital currency, custody, tokenisation, settlement and interoperability, where aligned with approved strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Build ecosystem and industry leadership: represent UOB in relevant regulator, industry and standards engagements; develop partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, technology providers, market infrastructures, academia and public‑sector bodies; structure collaborations with clear outcomes, governance and commercial terms.
• Drive quantum and advanced‑computing innovation: develop a prioritised portfolio of quantum, quantum‑inspired and hybrid computing applications; focus experimentation on defined banking problems; assess business advantage, technical feasibility, security implications and transition paths.
• Embed risk and control by design: partner Legal, Compliance, Risk, Cyber Security, Data, Technology Risk, Operations and Audit stakeholders to address regulatory interpretation, financial crime, privacy, resilience, third‑party, model and technology risks throughout the lifecycle.
• Orchestrate enterprise delivery: align Business, GTO, Operations, Finance, Marketing, country teams and domain specialists on requirements, architecture, funding, delivery sequencing, service ownership, controls and adoption; resolve senior‑level dependencies and issues.
• Provide market intelligence and executive advice: monitor regulatory, competitive and technology developments; translate implications into concise recommendations for senior management; communicate the benefits, limitations, risks and strategic choices of emerging technologies.
• Build capability and lead talent: develop a high‑performing multidisciplinary team and practitioner network; strengthen product, commercial, technical and risk fluency through coaching, knowledge assets and collaboration with the Innovation Academy.

Experience and Capabilities

• 15+ years of relevant experience in banking, payments, capital markets, transaction banking, financial market infrastructure, technology, product management, strategy or innovation, including substantial leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience taking complex technology or digital‑finance initiatives from strategy and experimentation through pilot, regulatory engagement, implementation and commercial adoption.
• Deep working knowledge of blockchain.