Mr. Richard Lai became the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer in May 2010, after joining the Manager in February 2005 as its Chief Financial Officer. 
His last appointment prior to joining the Manager was as a Director of Investment Banking at Alliance Merchant Bank Berhad in Malaysia. Mr. Lai has been in the banking industry since 1992, having started his banking career with Arab-Malaysian Merchant Bank Berhad (now known as AmInvestment Bank Berhad) in Malaysia. He then proceeded to join the merchant banking arm of Schroders where he spent several years originating debt and treasury business first in Malaysia then the Philippines and subsequently, Singapore.
After the sale of Schroders merchant banking business in 2000, Mr. Lai joined Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad as its Head of Structured Products marketing derivatives products to corporates. He was subsequently made Head of Debt Capital Markets where he was responsible for fixed income origination in Malaysia.
Mr. Lai is a member of the Malaysian Mensa Society. He holds a Bachelor in Economics (Honours) with a major in Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester, UK.