He made it by working in non chinese banks and financial outfit. It was by accident ocbc bought the european financial service company while he was there.no way can he start at a mandarin speakers only local chinese bank.
Bahren started his career as an auditor at
Coopers and Lybrand. After two years, he moved to the financial industry. He joined
American Express in 1988 before moving to
UBS AG Wealth Management in 1996,
[9] where he rose to become the managing director and Head of Southeast Asia and Australia team
[10] He then joined ING Asia Private Bank as Senior Managing Director and Global Head for the Southeast Asia market.
[11] In 2009 it was renamed Bank of Singapore after it was acquired by
OCBC Bank in the same year.
[12]