In January 2023, as East West Banking Corp. entered a new leadership chapter, Jerry G. Ngo became chief executive officer, bringing a lifelong belief that banking is “the physiology of the economy”—the system that keeps commerce alive. He thrives on its relentless pace: strategy meetings, financial deep dives, and conversations with regulators and frontline teams. Where others see static spreadsheets, Ngo sees patterns and possibilities, translating numbers into decisions that shape real lives. He leads the 11th largest bank in the country by assets.
His path to the corner office was unconventional. He began in medical school, later teaching chemistry and working as a purchasing officer while attending business school at night. Curiosity carried him across continents and industries—from development work with USAID to senior roles in regional banking and investment across Southeast Asia. He earned his MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He served as group chief finance officer and independent director at PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya Tbk, and held leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank N.A.. Before becoming CEO, he advised Filinvest Development Corporation, EastWest’s parent firm.
Assignments in the UK, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore became what he calls a masterclass in human behavior and business dynamics. Markets may appear rational, he observes, but decisions often hinge on how well leaders translate numbers into human realities—and account for emotion alongside valuation.
Succeeding long-time chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr., Ngo brought clarity, disciplined execution, and a team-first mindset. Short tenures in earlier roles trained him to build teams quickly, groom successors, and deliver results under pressure. He rejects the myth of the solitary CEO: while banking runs on capital, leadership runs on trust, empathy, and shared purpose. In a tightly regulated industry, he fosters a culture where ideas are challenged but people are not, and where trust disperses the burden of getting everything right alone.
Fatherhood has shaped his management style as much as global finance. An easygoing dad to two adult children, Ngo learned to absorb curveballs without overreacting—holding emotion steady to understand what lies beneath. The same principle applies at work: behind every performance issue or negotiation impasse is a human story. Having spent years on the road, he urges his team to choose family when conflicts arise, knowing culture is modeled more than declared.
To sustain performance, he treats physical and intellectual fitness as essentials—running, swimming, even cycling between meetings, and reading widely from history to theology. A diploma in theology reflects a reflective streak that tempers the hard edges of finance. His personal style mirrors his leadership: understated and practical, favoring functional, timeless pieces that are ready for the boardroom yet resilient enough for long days.
Under his stewardship, EastWest continues refining strategy and strengthening governance, while he remains active in industry groups such as the Bankers Association of the Philippines and the ASEAN Bankers Association. Yet for Ngo, success is not measured solely in assets or returns. Having seen the costs of chasing more without gratitude, he believes a good life—and a strong institution—is defined by the positive ripples it creates.
In an industry ruled by balance sheets, his ultimate metric resists quantification: leaving the world better than he found it, through service, kindness, and the lives touched along the way.
