Singapore-headquartered bank UOB has appointed Eric Lim as its first chief sustainability officer (CSO), a role in which he will lead a dedicated corporate sustainability office and focus on achieving the bank’s sustainability objectives of helping businesses to advance responsibly, steering consumer wealth to sustainable investments, and fostering social inclusiveness and environmental well-being.

The corporate sustainability office will work closely with the business and support functions across UOB’s network to increase focus, engagement on and execution of the bank’s sustainability strategy. The team will also develop and monitor the key performance indicators of the bank’s strategic sustainability goals, including UOB’s own carbon footprint target.

The CSO appointment is an extension of Lim’s current role as head of group finance, where he oversees financial strategy, capital management, regulatory and financial reporting, tax management, business finance and performance management.

Lim is also the chairperson of UOB’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) committee, responsible for reviewing the bank’s material ESG topics, identifying relevant risks and opportunities, and monitoring the progress of sustainability-related programmes and initiatives.

Prior to UOB, Lim was managing director and head of wholesale banking finance, Singapore and Southeast Asia, at a multinational bank. He began his career at a US-headquartered financial services firm where he took on various executive positions in financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, audit and controllership based across the US and Asia.

Lim, who will also join UOB’s management committee, will report directly to Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of the bank.

“Since joining UOB in 2013, Lim has been instrumental in driving the bank’s sustainability agenda,” Wee says. “With his new mandate, he and his team will build our capability and capacity further as we continue to forge a sustainable future.”