Euroclear has named James Chang as Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, effective 1 December 2026, following an onboarding period that begins this September, the financial market infrastructure group announced on 7 September 2026.

Chang will be based in Hong Kong and will oversee Euroclear's strategy across the Asia Pacific region, a market the company has described as a key area of focus for future growth. Euroclear, headquartered in Brussels, is one of the world's largest providers of domestic and cross-border settlement and custody services for bonds, equities, funds and other financial instruments, so regional leadership in Asia Pacific carries direct weight for the international post-trade chain that connects local markets to global investors. He will report directly to Valérie Urbain, Chief Executive Officer of Euroclear Group, and will join the Group Managing Director community.

Before joining Euroclear, Chang spent more than twenty years at PwC in Greater China, where he led a Consulting division of over 2,000 staff before taking charge of the firm's Financial Services practice. Earlier in his career, he held financial roles at JPMorgan and at Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, a firm now owned by Goldman Sachs.

Commenting on the appointment, Valérie Urbain said Chang's leadership background, industry knowledge and regional relationships would help Euroclear expand its presence, serve clients and identify new opportunities across Asia Pacific.

Chang said he was pleased to join the company at a significant time for both Euroclear and the region's capital markets, adding that he looked forward to working with colleagues and partners on the next stage of growth. His background in professional-services consulting, rather than in a market infrastructure operator, signals the emphasis Euroclear has placed on client relationships and advisory-led growth in the region, consistent with its stated focus on expanding cross-border collateral, settlement and fund services.

Chang succeeds Philippe Laurensy, who plans to retire in mid-2027 after four decades at Euroclear, most recently as Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific. Laurensy will remain with the company as an adviser through the transition period, supporting continuity for clients and stakeholders across the region until his retirement. The overlapping handover period, from Chang's September onboarding through Laurensy's mid-2027 retirement, is intended to preserve client continuity as the leadership change takes effect.