Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has appointed Kamran Azim as head, wealth management Asia and chief executive officer, RBC Singapore Branch, effective 1 November 2026. Azim succeeds Rod Ireland, who will retire on 31 December 2026, after more than 25 years at the firm.

Azim (pictured) has worked at RBC for nearly two decades, having joined in 2008. Initially based in Toronto, he has held several leadership roles including head of private banking, Singapore, and chief operating officer, wealth management Asia.

“We are pleased to build on Rod’s legacy with Kamran’s appointment. Drawing on his commercial acumen, strong connectivity across RBC globally, and demonstrated success in executing strategic initiatives, Kamran is exceptionally positioned to advance our strategic priorities and deliver excellence for our clients across Asia,” said Wayne Bossert, deputy chair, RBC Wealth Management.

The announcement follows a slew of recent hires of senior bankers at RBC, including Ivy Ma, Jackson Huang and Malcom Chai in Hong Kong, and Shirley Tee, George Joseph and Sindy Shi in Singapore.

RBC has maintained a presence in Hong Kong since 1969 and Singapore since 1975, and its wealth management offering in Asia includes: banking, brokerage, wealth planning, credit, investments, and financial advisory services.

The business has booking centres in Hong Kong and Singapore, a representative office in Beijing and an operations hub in Malaysia, focused on clients across the region: Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines.