In a year of C-suite planning and interim co-leadership, the top operations role has been shored up at the Asian asset manager.

Patricia Cheung has been named chief operating officer at Value Partners Group in 12 months of succession planning at the Hong Kong-based firm. Since July 2019, Cheung has undertaken the role jointly with Roger Hepper, who is retiring this month after “decades of remarkable experience in leading operational management in the buy-side world,” the firm said yesterday.

Cheung joined Value Partners as a chief administrative officer in August 2018, following senior posts in investment banking, central counterparty, and asset management businesses.

The Hong Kong-listed asset manager administers around $14 billion for clients from operations in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Singapore. It recently widened its footprint in Asia with a new office in Kuala Lumpur, adding to a presence in London and Boston in the US.

In a group statement, the leadership team thanked Hepper for his service: “We appreciate Roger’s contributions in developing a strong and professional operational team, and wish him well in his new chapter of life. As Patricia has been leading the operations team under a well-planned one-year succession arrangement, we are sure our team will continue to run smoothly and effectively under her leadership.”

Cheung added: “Roger is a great mentor and a good friend to me. I really appreciate having the opportunity to work together with him. I wish him a happy retirement!”