Moody’s Ratings scores win at SBR annual Management Excellence Awards 2024

The company was awarded the Executive of the Year - Financial Information & Analytics accolade.

Moody’s Ratings has triumphed at the SBR Management Excellence Awards 2024, which recognised the transformative leadership of its Managing Director – Regional Head of Asia Pacific, Wendy Cheong who has positioned the company as the winner in the financial information and analytics industry. 

Strategic foresight and growth orientation 

Having been Moody’s Ratings’ Regional Head of Asia-Pacific for the past five years, Cheong has demonstrated strategic foresight whilst prioritising people and their needs. Her innovative initiatives have not only driven the credit rating agency’s growth but have also significantly advanced the sustainable development of APAC's domestic bond markets, which are crucial for financing investments that support economic growth in Asia.

Moody's Ratings’ credit ratings and research help businesses identify opportunities and manage risks as Asia Pacific’s bond markets develop. This increased transparency and access to information facilitate informed decision-making and contribute to the shared progress of financial markets.

Cheong has been instrumental in championing Moody's Ratings’ growth by establishing a strong network of local affiliates. These affiliates have become leading and reputable credit rating agencies in their respective markets. 

Under her leadership, Moody’s Ratings launched its greenfield venture in Vietnam and acquired a stake in the Malaysian rating agency MARC Rating, which has enhanced Moody’s Ratings’ presence in Islamic finance. 

Cheong also helped strengthen the management team at ICRA – a domestic credit rating agency in India and Moody’s Ratings’ majority-owned affiliate – guiding the company towards growth through strategic acquisitions.

In South Korea, Cheong directed the management of the Korea Investors Service (KIS) to enter the green bond assessment space in the domestic market. She also developed initiatives such as joint market events and the commercialisation of KIS' ratings data to global investors.

Thought leadership, innovation, and risk management 

Moody’s Ratings has delivered results beyond domestic markets under Cheong’s leadership. The company is the leading cross-border rating agency in APAC, rating over US$9.3t of debt in 2023 across more than 2,000 issuers and structured finance deals. 
In a competitive market that has yet to understand the full utility of credit ratings, Cheong has helped strengthen Moody's Ratings’ thought leadership. She played a role in establishing the company as the credit rating agency of choice across APAC and promoted its capabilities through regional awards and high-profile events.

Cheong has also helped the rating agency navigate the complexities of operating in diverse and evolving regulatory landscapes across Asia, emphasising its commitment to compliance and innovation. She has facilitated collaboration amongst the organisation’s various functions, ensuring comprehensive risk management. Through her efforts, which include representing Moody's Ratings at key policy and outreach events, the company has successfully built strong relationships with regulators across the region.

Innovation is a key pillar of Moody's Ratings’ business and under Cheong’s regional leadership, Moody’s launched its Second Party Opinions (SPOs) initiative, which provides independent assessments of debt issuers’ sustainable finance frameworks. As part of Moody’s Digital Economy Leadership team, she played a key role in engaging with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Project Guardian initiative. Through her various speaking engagements at conferences around the region, she has helped further establish Moody’s Ratings’ thought leadership in the fintech and digital assets space.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Cheong is also a strong advocate for creating a positive work environment within Moody's and has consistently undertaken initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and invest in her colleagues' development. These initiatives reflect her belief that people are central to Moody’s success.

Award background

The SBR Management Excellence Awards recognises the most exceptional business leaders, innovators, teams and initiatives that drive growth and make a positive impact on the business operations and its workforce in Asia Pacific, including Singapore.

The awards programme, now in its 10th year, not only acknowledges positive change but also honours those who have successfully propelled their companies to new heights of success whilst fostering a nurturing environment that positively influences their employees.

The SBR Management Excellence Awards is presented by Singapore Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].