Leader of the Year from Asia - 2024

As 2024 has come to a close, several Asian business and political leaders have emerged as exemplars for vision, resilience, and transforming leadership. Throughout the year, these individuals have shown unparalleled capacity to navigate the pressures of an evolving global landscape by economic shifts, technological and rising geopolitical tensions. Their leadership across various sectors-from technology and finance to healthcare and sustainability-helped drive growth, foster innovation, and address pressing societal needs. Reflecting on their achievements, it became clear that the leaders who stood out in Asia this year were those who not only adapted to change but actively shaped the future of their industries and societies. 

For another year, Asian leaders came up at the vanguard of global digital transformation in the technology sector. Across 2024, innovations fueled by the potency of technology would be driving engines for economic growth throughout this region. The leading technocrats and IT industry leaders navigated their fastpaced ride through AI and cloud computing that was now supplemented with further boost of innovations in 5G networks. Many had made bold decisions to drive digital transformation within their organizations and industries, particularly by integrating AI and machine learning into business models.

"As 2024 has come to a close, several asian business and political leaders have emerged as exemplars for vision, resilience, and transforming leadership"

In fintech, in particular, leaders had welcomed DeFi, blockchain, and digital currencies as a new trend for the financial sector, which further established Asia as a financial innovation hub in the world. This helped push the boundaries of traditional banking to enable greater inclusion in finance and facilitate easier, more secure cross-border transactions.

Many had focused resources on expanding telemedicine and digital health services, bringing care to remote populations and those in underserved areas. The leaders in the region recognized the need for digital solutions as a relief valve on the traditional systems of healthcare delivery, with demand remaining high across the region.

Asia's leaders in 2024 were exceptional at times of dramatic change in the global environment and still maintained the long-term vision. There was an aspect of resilience shown by all these individuals - technology, healthcare, sustainability, finance, and geopolitics - with the strategic foresight to stay focused on both immediate goals and long-term objectives. Their leadership had not only contributed to the success of their organizations and countries but also to the broader global landscape. As the year continued to approach its end, it was more than evident that these leaders would play a pivotal role for the future of Asia and the world as well.

CEO Insights in this issue spotlights of ‘Leader of the Year from Asia - 2024' featuring leaders who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.