World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
DBS names board director Anthony Lim as new chairman; Peter Seah retires after 16 years
DBS director Anthony Lim will become chairman of Singapore’s largest bank on 1 January 2027, succeeding Peter Seah, who is retiring after 16 years in the role. The change is part of the bank’s board renewal and comes after a period in which DBS expanded and transformed its digital services.
Lim, 68, has served on DBS’s boards since 2020 and chairs its compensation and management development committee; he previously held senior roles at GIC and Bankers Trust. Seah, 80, will leave the boards on 31 December and serve as a senior adviser for a year. During his chairmanship, DBS said its income more than tripled, net profit grew more than fourfold, and its market capitalisation passed S$200 billion in July 2026.
In short
- Anthony Lim takes over as DBS chairman on 1 January 2027.
- Peter Seah retires after 16 years leading the board.
- DBS reported more than fourfold net profit growth under Seah.
Explained simply
DBS is Singapore’s largest bank, serving customers and businesses across the region. Its board oversees the bank’s direction and appoints its senior leadership, while the chairman leads the board.
Peter Seah has chaired DBS’s board since 2010. Anthony Lim joined the board in 2020, after senior roles at Singapore’s GIC investment fund and Bankers Trust, and chairs the committee responsible for pay and management development.
The chairmanship change comes as DBS continues to renew its board after years of growth and investment in digital banking. The role matters because the board helps guide the bank’s long-term plans and oversees its management.