12 Jan 2023

Prudential appoints new HR leadership

Prudential plc (Prudential) today announces the retirement of Jolene Chen, Group Human Resources Director, and the appointment of her replacement, Catherine Chia (Cat).

Ms Chia joins Prudential in its Group Head office in Hong Kong on 1 April 2023 as Group Chief Human Resources Officer and will report to incoming CEO Anil Wadhwani as a member of the Group Executive Committee. She will oversee the strategic direction of group-wide human resources, including organisational design, talent management, learning and development, and employee engagement.

Mark FitzPatrick, Group Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Cat to Prudential at a time where the attraction and retention of talent and the development of new capabilities is critical to our success in Asia and Africa.

“Cat shares our passion to ensure all employees are aligned with our purpose, values and growth mindset.”

Ms Chia joins Prudential from StarHub, Singapore, where she worked as Chief HR Officer since 2018 to drive workforce optimisation, culture transformation and employee engagement. She also chaired the company’s Covid-19 taskforce.

Before leading the HR function at StarHub, Catherine held senior HR leadership roles in LEGO, United Overseas Bank, as well as Dell Inc. in Singapore and Shanghai.

Jolene Chen will retire at the end of March. She has been the Group Human Resources Director for Prudential since June 2019, and prior to that the Chief Human Resources Officer for Prudential Corporation Asia since 2011. She is also Co-Chair of Prudential’s Global D&I Council and Chair of Prudence Foundation, the philanthropic community investment arm of Prudential.

Mark FitzPatrick said: “Jolene has been the driving force behind Prudential’s organisational change and development. She has partnered with countless business teams to build leadership capabilities and diversity while nurturing high-performing talent.

“Her activities over the years have made Prudential a more dynamic and responsive business that is better equipped to help people get the most out of life.

“Jolene and Cat will work closely to ensure the smooth transition of group-wide human resource responsibilities. 

“I wholeheartedly thank Jolene for her leadership and service to Prudential, and wish her well as she embarks on a new chapter in life.”


ENDS

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About Prudential plc
Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 23 markets across Asia and Africa. The business helps people get the most out of life, by making healthcare affordable and accessible and by promoting financial inclusion. Prudential protects people’s wealth, helps them grow their assets, and empowers them to save for their goals. The business has more than 19 million life customers and has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is also a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index. 

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. https://www.prudentialplc.com/