The ability to navigate the global uncertainties of 2026—from geopolitics, to technology and trade—while keeping an eye toward the future has been a tall order for business executives around the world this year. For the CEOs, CFOs and investor relations heads of companies in Asia, this becomes even more complex in region that is not a single homogeneous market but more defined by its differences.
“The most challenging aspect of our business is navigating the growing complexity of the global automotive industry while sustaining competitiveness through a period of industry transformation,” confirmed Zayong Koo, chief IR Officer of the Hyundai Motor Company, the multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. “Hyundai Motor Company operates far beyond regional boundaries, across a wide range of global markets with distinct customer needs, regulations, and competitive landscapes. This creates a constant need to balance global scale with local responsiveness.”
CEOs were ranked at the top for their credibility, leadership and communication. CFOs were rated on their ability in capital allocation, financial stewardship and communication. For the investor relations programs, companies were rated on: roadshows/conferences/meetings; responsiveness; business and market knowledge; timeliness of disclosure; and consistency and granularity of disclosure.
Read on to learn more about how these top executives are overcoming challenges and market misconceptions and what their proudest moment of their year was. And as for what the next decade could hold for the region? As one executive said, “Asia’s greatest challenges and opportunities will come from the region’s rapid transformation into the global center of mobility innovation and competition.”
What has been the most challenging aspect of running your business?
The global economic environment is full of challenges, including rapid shifts in international trade policies, escalating geopolitical risks, and elevated volatility in financial markets. The greatest challenge in navigating such an environment lies not merely in maintaining operational stability and resilience, but the ability to seize opportunities amidst volatility, continuously identifying and capturing new avenues for growth. As a financial holding company, we see scale expansion, resources integration and customer management represent opportunities as well as challenges in front of us.
Fubon Financial Holdings demonstrates its operational resilience that is fundamentally built upon our diversified financial services platform. We aim to integrate the holding company's businesses, including banking, life insurance, non-life insurance, securities, and asset management, thereby unleashing cross-platform synergies. In addition to deeply cultivating the Taiwan market, we continue to advance our regional footprint. Meanwhile, we drive operational upgrades through digitalization and AI, enhancing customer experience and optimizing service efficiency. This diversified and comprehensive business layout enables us to effectively balance risk with business growth. Through the synergistic cooperation among our subsidiaries, we achieve risk diversification and forge a resilient financial holding platform. Empowered by these advantages, we have not only stood firm amidst market volatilities but have also continued to create value for shareholders.
What is the biggest misconception the market currently has about your company?
Market can be excessively focused on the short-term fluctuations in financial results, often using this as the primary metric to measure a company’s performance. However, the nature of the financial industry is like running marathon instead of sprint. For Fubon Financial Holdings, our competitive edge lies in delivering long-term financial performance that transcends market cycles. Short-term numerical fluctuations are frequently influenced by the market environment. What we value far more are the structural advantages underpinning those numbers. Fubon Financial Holdings has become the largest financial institution in terms of market cap in Taiwan. We believe that long-term financial success comes from continuous accumulation. It also comes along with strong execution capabilities underpinned by strategic insights and perspectives, solid corporate governance, and authentic commitment to sustainable social responsibility. This will ultimately translate into long-term value creation for our shareholders.
What are Asia's greatest challenges and opportunities in the next decade?
In the coming decade, Asia's economic landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The primary challenges stem from rising geopolitical risks and the uncertainties brought by the restructuring and regionalization of global supply chains. However, these challenges also create significant opportunities. In the current wave of AI-driven technological innovation, Asia—particularly the regional tech supply chain—plays an indispensable role. The booming demand for computing power and advanced manufacturing is emerging as a powerful engine for regional economic growth.
In response to these trends, Fubon Financial Holdings is proactively turning challenges into competitive advantages. We are bringing innovative momentum through FinTech, as we integrate sustainable development (ESG) and prudent risk management into our core strategy. We are committed to leveraging our financial influence—both to help corporate clients strengthen the financial resilience of their supply chains and to address customers’ evolving wealth management needs amid the digital and green transition. In doing so, we aim to capture new business opportunities arising from regional economic development.
What are you proudest of over the last year?
I am grateful for all the colleagues in Fubon Financial Holdings. Amidst a volatile global macroeconomic and political environment in 2025, we jointly demonstrated operational resilience and execution capabilities. Firstly, regarding our financial performance, Fubon Financial Holdings once again delivered stellar results. Net profit after tax reached NT$120.94 billion, with an earnings per share (EPS) of NT$8.37 in 2025, leading all financial holdings companies in Taiwan for the 17th consecutive year. The subsidiaries, including Taipei Fubon Bank, Fubon Securities, Fubon Insurance, Fubon Bank (Hong Kong), Fubon Bank (China), and Fubon Asset Management all achieved record high profits in 2025. Meanwhile, net income of Fubon Life in 2025 was at the top of the life insurance industry in Taiwan. Underpinning this achievement is the synergy from our diversified financial services platforms, which have successfully transformed market challenges into tangible growth drivers.
Secondly, I am deeply proud of Fubon Financial Holdings' commitment to sustainable finance. We integrate our four core ESG strategies, 'Low Carbon, Digital, Incentive, and Influence', into business decisions. We have actively advanced our green finance and decarbonization commitments over the past year, with the recognition from multiple international sustainability ratings for several consecutive years.
Additionally, we are grateful for the recognition in the Extel rankings, where Fubon Financial Holdings received the highest accolades in both the 'All-Asia Insurance' and 'Asia Insurance (ex-Mainland China)' categories. To earn this distinction from buy-side and sell-side investors’ voting, especially amidst comprehensive evaluation standards and intensified competition, this reflects the trust from the investment community in our team's management and execution. It further validates that we are on the right path towards the vision of becoming one of Asia’s first-class financial institutions.
What has been the most challenging aspect of running your business?
The most challenging aspect of our business is navigating the growing complexity of the global automotive industry while sustaining competitiveness through a period of industry transformation. Hyundai Motor Company operates far beyond regional boundaries, across a wide range of global markets with distinct customer needs, regulations, and competitive landscapes. This creates a constant need to balance global scale with local responsiveness.
That challenge has become even greater as market-specific regulations, geopolitical uncertainties, and supply chain considerations increasingly shape business decisions. Different regions are moving at different speeds on emissions, localization, and EV policies, while geopolitical issues and trade dynamics continue to influence sourcing, manufacturing, and market access. Managing these variables in a coordinated way is a major leadership and operational challenge.
In addition, competitive intensity is rising sharply, particularly with the rapid emergence of Chinese OEMs and the acceleration of electrification technologies. Chinese automakers are becoming increasingly influential through aggressive pricing, fast product cycles, and strong EV capabilities. Meanwhile, technological advances in batteries, software, and electrified platforms are reshaping the basis of competition across the industry.
Ultimately, our challenge is to remain agile and forward-looking — adapting to global complexities while continuing to invest in innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and deliver sustainable growth.
What is the biggest misconception the market currently has about your company?
The biggest misconception is that Hyundai Motor Company is still primarily a value-oriented fast follower rather than a technology-driven, globally ambitious mobility company. That perception lags behind the reality of how much the company has evolved in design, quality, manufacturing, electrification, and positioning for both the Hyundai and Genesis brands.
