This latest appointment builds on the company’s ESG push, following its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – AIA Singapore today announced the official appointment of Ms Leong Li Sun as its new Head of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG). This newly created role is part of the leading life and health insurer’s transformational push to ensure a more sustainable future for the individuals and families it serves. Li Sun will report to Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore.
As the Head of ESG, Li Sun’s mandate is to further embed AIA’s ESG commitment within the company’s operations, across five strategic pillars that will deliver long-term value for stakeholders: Health and Wellness, Green Operations, Sustainable Investment, People and Culture, and Effective Governance. Li Sun will be working closely with AIA Group and the respective functions locally to develop and oversee AIA Singapore’s environmental, social and governance policies, as well as to ensure compliance with group regional policies and recognised best-in-class practices for accountability and transparency.
Li Sun is a certified sustainability practitioner with 10 years of experience in corporate sustainability. Prior to joining AIA Singapore, Li Sun held the position of Vice President, Head of Corporate Sustainability at United Overseas Bank (UOB) and served as Secretariat for the UOB Group Sustainability Committee. During her time in UOB, Li Sun successfully drove the integration of the company’s sustainability strategy across all functions, and secured UOB’s inclusion on the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and position as one of the few ASEAN banks to be rated “Low Risk” by Sustainalytics.
Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, said, “I am delighted to welcome Li Sun into our AIA family. Her arrival will drive momentum in expanding AIA Singapore’s ESG credentials that will take our industry leadership to new heights and deliver meaningful outcomes for all.”
“ESG is at the heart of our purpose to help people live healthier, longer, better lives, as our collective future depends on the actions we are taking today. Our 2050 net-zero target is the latest in a series of initiatives that underscores this very commitment.”
AIA Group – holding total assets of US$326 billion[1] – is doubling down on its ESG commitments, recently announcing that the company sold off almost US$10 billion of investments in coal mining and coal-fired power business, and that it won’t make new investments in businesses directly involved in coal mining or generating electricity from coal.
AIA is the largest pan-Asian life and health insurer to commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company is also committed to the Science Based Target initiatives (SBTi)[2], which will inform its US$286 billion investment portfolio[3] engagement processes.
[1] https://www.aia.com/content/dam/group/en/docs/annual-report/AIA%20Group%20Annual%20Report%202020%20(Eng).pdf
[2] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
[3] Investment portfolio size as at June 2021, https://www.aia.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/aia-group-press-release-20211207.html
About AIA
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.
The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$330 billion as of 30 June 2021.
AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).
Notes:
1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.
#AIA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
