HK leader brings Asia focus as head of Appleby’s international operations

The extensive experience in Asia of Appleby’s new group chairman will be utilised almost immediately as she settles into the top job at the international firm.

Frances Woo succeeds Peter Bubenzer, who retires from Appleby on 31 March after more than 32 years. She will remain based in her Hong Kong office, in itself a statement of focus for the firm.

“Essentially Asia is the best place to be right now, there’s a lot of clear recognition within Appleby that that’s the case,” Woo told China Business Law Journal.

“My immediate focus is to get comfortable and into the position, and then reaching out to all parts of our business, in particular focusing on: 1) our offshore businesses and making sure they are efficient and effective, and 2) to grow our fiduciary business, and 3) not the least is to focus on our Asian strategy and our Asian growth, and in that I would put in growth in other emerging and developing markets.