The 2019 leadership cycle was shaped by technology platforms, semiconductor depth, consumer ecosystems, financial digitization, new mobility, energy transition pressure, large-scale capital formation and the rising importance of trusted execution. Asia's most influential chief executives were those who could convert strategic ambition into operating systems, institutional confidence and measurable market relevance.
2019
InfluenceAsia 100: Asia's Top CEOs 2019
Chief Executive Influence Watch.
100Leaders Ranked
100Point Leadership Index
7Research Dimensions
17Market Bases
Ranking Introduction
The chief executives defining Asia's enterprise authority.
InfluenceAsia 100: Asia's Top CEOs 2019 identifies the leaders whose 2019 execution, strategic consequence, institutional judgment and sector influence made them central to Asia's corporate and economic trajectory. The ranking is not a wealth list, popularity table or market-cap ordering; it evaluates leadership impact, operating quality, transformation capacity, governance credibility and regional relevance in the 2019 business environment.
This is not a wealth list, popularity table, traffic chart, advertising award or market-cap ordering. It is an InfluenceAsia independent research and editorial ranking.
The editorial question is leadership consequence: how each executive shaped operating quality, transformation capacity, governance credibility, institutional confidence and Asia relevance during the 2019 annual window.
The edition considers Asia-based and Asia-centered leaders who held chief executive authority during the 2019 editorial window, including CEOs, Group CEOs, Presidents, Managing Directors, founder-operators and executive chairs whose role carried direct strategic and operating responsibility. Non-executive figureheads, investors without operating authority, government officials, retired leaders and purely symbolic owners are excluded.
All leadership language is framed from the vantage point of 2019, using the enterprise conditions, sector priorities, capital-market signals and executive responsibilities visible in that annual window. Later-cycle controversies, restructurings, leadership exits or market reversals are not used to rewrite the 2019 editorial judgment.
Representative Leaders
Eight Leaders That Define The 2019 Thesis
#01
Pony Ma
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ma's 2019 influence came from platform depth: Tencent remained an operating layer for communication, entertainment, payments and services across daily digital life.
#02
Daniel Zhang
Chief Executive Officer and incoming Chairman
Zhang's 2019 profile combined succession discipline with operational command, making Alibaba a central reference point for Asian digital enterprise leadership.
#03
Mukesh Ambani
Chairman and Managing Director
Ambani's 2019 importance came from combining industrial cash generation with national-scale digital ambition, changing India's enterprise narrative.
#04
Masayoshi Son
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Son's 2019 influence lay in scale of conviction, making Asian capital an active force in global technology company formation.
#05
Amin H. Nasser
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nasser's 2019 leadership combined technical operating authority with historic capital-market significance in one of Asia's largest enterprises.
#06
Akio Toyoda
President
Toyoda's influence came from translating a manufacturing champion into a broader mobility company without abandoning operational excellence.
#07
C.C. Wei
Chief Executive Officer
Wei's 2019 influence came from manufacturing trust at strategic scale, making TSMC indispensable to the digital economy.
#08
Ren Zhengfei
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Ren's 2019 profile was defined by resilience under constraint and by the strategic importance of communications infrastructure.
Full Ranking
The Full List
Showing 100 of 100 leaders
| Rank | Leader | Platform | Market Base | Primary Sector | Index | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pony MaChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Tencent Holdings | China | Social platforms, gaming, payments, cloud and digital content | 99 | Pony Ma sustained Tencent's 2019 leadership across social infrastructure, games, payments, cloud services and digital content while preserving one of Asia's deepest consumer internet ecosystems. |
| 2 | Daniel ZhangChief Executive Officer and incoming Chairman | Alibaba Group | China | E-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, local services and digital business infrastructure | 98.7 | Daniel Zhang led Alibaba through a critical 2019 leadership transition while strengthening commerce, cloud, logistics and consumer technology at exceptional scale. |
| 3 | Mukesh AmbaniChairman and Managing Director | Reliance Industries | India | Energy, petrochemicals, retail, telecommunications and digital infrastructure | 98.4 | Mukesh Ambani accelerated Reliance's 2019 transformation from industrial champion into a digital, retail and connectivity platform for Indian consumers. |
| 4 | Masayoshi SonChairman and Chief Executive Officer | SoftBank Group | Japan | Telecommunications, technology investment, platform capital and semiconductor-linked assets | 98.1 | Masayoshi Son remained one of 2019's most consequential Asian executives through global technology capital deployment, telecom depth and the strategic value of Arm ownership. |
| 5 | Amin H. NasserPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Saudi Aramco | Saudi Arabia | Energy, oil, gas, chemicals and global energy infrastructure | 97.8 | Amin H. Nasser guided Saudi Aramco through 2019 as the company entered public-market life while remaining central to global energy supply. |
| 6 | Akio ToyodaPresident | Toyota Motor Corporation | Japan | Automotive manufacturing, hybrid technology, mobility services and connected vehicles | 97.5 | Akio Toyoda led Toyota's 2019 mobility transition, balancing global manufacturing discipline with connected, electrified and service-oriented vehicle strategy. |
| 7 | C.C. WeiChief Executive Officer | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company | Taiwan | Semiconductor foundry, advanced process manufacturing and chip ecosystems | 97.1 | C.C. Wei strengthened TSMC's 2019 position through advanced-node execution and trusted manufacturing capacity for global technology customers. |
| 8 | Ren ZhengfeiFounder and Chief Executive Officer | Huawei | China | Telecommunications equipment, smartphones, cloud, enterprise systems and 5G technology | 96.8 | Ren Zhengfei became one of 2019's most watched Asian executives as Huawei navigated intense global pressure while sustaining telecom, device and 5G relevance. |
| 9 | Ma MingzheChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Ping An Insurance Group | China | Insurance, fintech, health technology and integrated financial services | 96.5 | Ma Mingzhe advanced Ping An's 2019 technology-powered finance model across insurance, banking, health care, AI, cloud and ecosystem services. |
| 10 | Zhang YimingFounder and Chief Executive Officer | ByteDance | China | Short video, content recommendation, social media and AI-driven platforms | 96.2 | Zhang Yiming made ByteDance one of 2019's most influential Asian technology companies through global short-video expansion and recommendation-led content systems. |
| 11 | Piyush GuptaChief Executive Officer | DBS Group Holdings | Singapore | Banking, digital finance, wealth management and regional financial services | 95.9 | Piyush Gupta reinforced DBS's 2019 reputation as Asia's leading digital bank through disciplined execution, technology adoption and regional franchise strength. |
| 12 | Wang XingFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Meituan Dianping | China | Local services, food delivery, travel booking and urban consumer platforms | 95.6 | Wang Xing moved Meituan Dianping deeper into profitability and platform relevance in 2019, strengthening food delivery, in-store services, travel and local commerce. |
| 13 | Kim Ki-namVice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Samsung Electronics | South Korea | Semiconductors, memory, devices, displays and electronics manufacturing | 95.3 | Kim Ki-nam represented Samsung Electronics' 2019 leadership through memory, semiconductor manufacturing, display technology and global component scale. |
| 14 | Kenichiro YoshidaPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Sony Corporation | Japan | Entertainment technology, gaming, image sensors, music, film and electronics | 95 | Kenichiro Yoshida strengthened Sony's 2019 transformation around games, image sensors, entertainment assets and disciplined portfolio management. |
| 15 | Lei JunFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Xiaomi Corporation | China | Smartphones, IoT devices, consumer electronics and internet services | 94.7 | Lei Jun guided Xiaomi's 2019 international expansion and smart-device ecosystem strategy while preserving its value-for-money consumer identity. |
| 16 | Colin HuangFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Pinduoduo | China | Social commerce, agricultural commerce and value-oriented e-commerce | 94.3 | Colin Huang expanded Pinduoduo's 2019 role in social commerce, value consumption and agricultural-market digitization at extraordinary user scale. |
| 17 | Richard LiuFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | JD.com | China | E-commerce, logistics, direct retail and supply-chain technology | 94 | Richard Liu kept JD.com central to 2019 Chinese e-commerce through supply-chain reliability, direct retail discipline and logistics infrastructure. |
| 18 | Aditya PuriManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer | HDFC Bank | India | Retail banking, payments, deposits, credit and digital finance | 93.7 | Aditya Puri sustained HDFC Bank's 2019 leadership in Indian private banking through retail discipline, digital adoption and high-quality execution. |
| 19 | Tadashi YanaiChairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | Fast Retailing | Japan | Apparel retail, global brand operations and supply-chain management | 93.4 | Tadashi Yanai advanced Fast Retailing's 2019 global retail relevance through disciplined store operations, brand clarity and supply-chain scale. |
| 20 | Shuntaro FurukawaPresident | Nintendo | Japan | Gaming hardware, software, intellectual property and interactive entertainment | 93.1 | Shuntaro Furukawa led Nintendo's 2019 momentum through the Switch platform, recurring software strength and disciplined management of beloved game franchises. |
| 21 | Wang ChuanfuChairman and President | BYD | China | Electric vehicles, batteries, buses and new energy systems | 92.8 | Wang Chuanfu kept BYD central to 2019 electric mobility through battery depth, new-energy vehicles and vertically integrated manufacturing. |
| 22 | Robin LiCo-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Baidu | China | Search, artificial intelligence, cloud, maps and autonomous driving | 92.5 | Robin Li repositioned Baidu in 2019 around AI, cloud services, autonomous driving and voice interfaces while protecting search relevance. |
| 23 | Ding LeiFounder and Chief Executive Officer | NetEase | China | Online games, mobile games, digital content and internet services | 92.2 | Ding Lei sustained NetEase's 2019 quality profile in games, music, education-linked services and disciplined digital operations. |
| 24 | Hiroshi MikitaniFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Rakuten | Japan | E-commerce, fintech, mobile communications and digital ecosystems | 91.9 | Hiroshi Mikitani advanced Rakuten's 2019 ecosystem strategy across e-commerce, finance, loyalty, communications and mobile-network ambition. |
| 25 | Charles LiChief Executive | Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing | Hong Kong | Exchange infrastructure, capital-market connectivity and financial technology | 91.6 | Charles Li remained a central 2019 capital-market executive through market-connectivity initiatives, listed-market modernization and Hong Kong's role as an Asian finance gateway. |
| 26 | Uday KotakManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer | Kotak Mahindra Bank | India | Banking, wealth management, insurance and Indian financial services | 91.2 | Uday Kotak reinforced Kotak Mahindra Bank's 2019 reputation for conservative growth, capital discipline and high-quality Indian financial services. |
| 27 | Ng Keng HooiGroup Chief Executive and President | AIA Group | Hong Kong | Life insurance, protection, wealth and pan-Asian financial services | 90.9 | Ng Keng Hooi led AIA's 2019 pan-Asian insurance franchise through protection demand, agency productivity and long-term savings growth. |
| 28 | Ho ChingChief Executive Officer | Temasek Holdings | Singapore | Investment holding, strategic capital, technology, finance and long-term portfolio ownership | 90.6 | Ho Ching remained one of 2019's most influential Asian capital allocators, guiding a long-horizon portfolio across finance, technology, life sciences, consumer and infrastructure themes. |
| 29 | Rajesh GopinathanChief Executive Officer and Managing Director | Tata Consultancy Services | India | IT services, consulting, digital transformation and enterprise technology | 90.3 | Rajesh Gopinathan sustained TCS's 2019 position as Asia's leading IT services company through enterprise digitization, scale delivery and margin discipline. |
| 30 | Salil ParekhChief Executive Officer and Managing Director | Infosys | India | IT services, digital transformation, cloud, consulting and enterprise software services | 90 | Salil Parekh strengthened Infosys's 2019 renewal through digital services growth, large-deal discipline and a more stable strategic operating model. |
| 31 | N. ChandrasekaranExecutive Chairman with group chief executive authority | Tata Sons | India | Diversified industrials, technology, consumer, automotive, steel and services | 89.7 | N. Chandrasekaran guided the Tata group in 2019 with portfolio discipline, technology-minded governance and renewed strategic focus across India's most significant conglomerate platform. |
| 32 | Gautam AdaniFounder and Chairman with chief executive authority | Adani Group | India | Ports, logistics, energy, infrastructure, airports and energy assets | 89.4 | Gautam Adani expanded Adani Group's 2019 infrastructure role across ports, energy, logistics, airports and national-scale asset platforms. |
| 33 | Anthony TanCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | Grab | Singapore | Ride-hailing, food delivery, payments and everyday services | 89.1 | Anthony Tan made Grab one of 2019's defining Southeast Asian technology platforms through mobility, food delivery, payments and super-app expansion. |
| 34 | Nadiem MakarimFounder and Chief Executive Officer during the 2019 window | Gojek | Indonesia | Ride-hailing, delivery, payments and on-demand services | 88.8 | Nadiem Makarim shaped Gojek's 2019 role as Indonesia's most important on-demand platform, linking transport, delivery, payments and small-business services. |
| 35 | Forrest LiFounder, Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer | Sea Limited | Singapore | Digital entertainment, e-commerce, fintech and regional consumer platforms | 88.5 | Forrest Li advanced Sea Limited's 2019 growth across Garena, Shopee and digital financial services, making it a central Southeast Asian internet company. |
| 36 | Cheng WeiFounder and Chief Executive Officer | Didi Chuxing | China | Mobility platforms, ride-hailing, transport technology and fleet services | 88.2 | Cheng Wei kept Didi Chuxing central to 2019 mobility despite operational and regulatory pressure, focusing on safety, efficiency and transport-platform depth. |
| 37 | Zhang YongFounder and Chief Executive Officer | Haidilao International | China / Singapore | Restaurant chains, hotpot dining, service culture and consumer hospitality | 87.8 | Zhang Yong elevated Haidilao's 2019 influence through disciplined restaurant expansion, service differentiation and strong consumer brand recognition. |
| 38 | Dong MingzhuChairwoman and President | Gree Electric Appliances | China | Home appliances, air conditioning, smart manufacturing and consumer electronics | 87.5 | Dong Mingzhu remained one of 2019's most prominent Chinese industrial leaders through appliance quality, manufacturing discipline and brand-centered execution. |
| 39 | Zhang RuiminChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Haier Group | China | Home appliances, smart homes, industrial internet and management systems | 87.2 | Zhang Ruimin sustained Haier's 2019 global appliance leadership and continued to promote a user-centered organizational model for smart-home competition. |
| 40 | Li ShufuFounder and Chairman with chief executive authority | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | China | Automobiles, mobility technology, vehicle platforms and global automotive brands | 86.9 | Li Shufu guided Geely's 2019 automotive influence through brand upgrading, global platform thinking and participation in the next generation of mobility. |
| 41 | Chung Eui-sunExecutive Vice Chairman with group operating authority | Hyundai Motor Group | South Korea | Automobiles, mobility, fuel cells, electrification and smart transportation | 86.6 | Chung Eui-sun became a pivotal 2019 mobility leader by accelerating Hyundai Motor Group's future-vehicle, hydrogen and electric-mobility agenda. |
| 42 | Lee Seok-heePresident and Chief Executive Officer | SK hynix | South Korea | Memory semiconductors, DRAM, NAND and storage technology | 86.3 | Lee Seok-hee led SK hynix through 2019's memory-cycle pressure while preserving its strategic position in DRAM, NAND and data-driven semiconductor demand. |
| 43 | Toshiaki HigashiharaPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Hitachi | Japan | Industrial systems, infrastructure technology, data, energy and mobility solutions | 86 | Toshiaki Higashihara pushed Hitachi's 2019 evolution toward data-led infrastructure, social innovation and higher-value industrial technology. |
| 44 | Christophe WeberPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Takeda Pharmaceutical | Japan | Pharmaceuticals, global medicine, oncology, gastroenterology and rare disease therapies | 85.7 | Christophe Weber guided Takeda through a transformational 2019 integration period, elevating Japan's pharmaceutical presence in global medicine. |
| 45 | Takeshi NiinamiPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Suntory Holdings | Japan | Beverages, spirits, consumer brands and global distribution | 85.4 | Takeshi Niinami strengthened Suntory's 2019 standing through global beverage brands, premiumization and disciplined consumer-market execution. |
| 46 | Goh Choon PhongChief Executive Officer | Singapore Airlines | Singapore | Airlines, premium travel, aviation services and international connectivity | 85 | Goh Choon Phong maintained Singapore Airlines' 2019 premium-service position while navigating intense aviation competition and fleet modernization demands. |
| 47 | Chua Sock KoongGroup Chief Executive Officer | Singapore Telecommunications | Singapore | Telecommunications, regional mobile networks, enterprise ICT and digital services | 84.7 | Chua Sock Koong led Singtel through 2019 as a regional telecom group balancing mature-market pressure, enterprise ICT and digital-service expansion. |
| 48 | Wee Ee CheongDeputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | United Overseas Bank | Singapore | Banking, wealth, trade finance and regional financial services | 84.4 | Wee Ee Cheong strengthened UOB's 2019 regional banking franchise through conservative risk culture, Southeast Asian connectivity and relationship-led finance. |
| 49 | Samuel TsienGroup Chief Executive Officer | OCBC Bank | Singapore | Banking, insurance, wealth management and regional financial services | 84.1 | Samuel Tsien kept OCBC's 2019 franchise anchored in regional banking, wealth, insurance-linked finance and Greater China connectivity. |
| 50 | Han Seong-sookChief Executive Officer | Naver | South Korea | Search, portals, mobile services, content and platform technology | 83.8 | Han Seong-sook sustained Naver's 2019 role in search, content, messaging-linked ecosystems and technology-led services in Korea and Japan-linked markets. |
| 51 | Yeo Min-soo and Joh Su-yongCo-Chief Executive Officers | Kakao | South Korea | Messaging, mobile platforms, fintech, mobility, content and digital services | 83.5 | Yeo Min-soo and Joh Su-yong advanced Kakao's 2019 ecosystem across messaging, payments, mobility, content and mobile services. |
| 52 | Rajeev JainManaging Director | Bajaj Finance | India | Consumer finance, lending, digital credit and financial services | 83.2 | Rajeev Jain made Bajaj Finance one of 2019's most watched Asian lenders through consumer-credit scale, data-led underwriting and operating discipline. |
| 53 | Gopal VittalManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer | Bharti Airtel | India | Telecommunications, mobile networks, broadband and digital services | 82.9 | Gopal Vittal led Airtel through 2019's intense telecom competition while strengthening network quality, data services and customer segmentation. |
| 54 | Rajnish KumarChairman with chief executive authority | State Bank of India | India | Banking, public finance, deposits, credit and financial inclusion | 82.6 | Rajnish Kumar guided State Bank of India in 2019 through balance-sheet repair, digital banking and the responsibilities of India's largest banking franchise. |
| 55 | Sandeep BakhshiManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer | ICICI Bank | India | Private banking, retail finance, corporate banking and digital services | 82.3 | Sandeep Bakhshi stabilized ICICI Bank's 2019 leadership profile, emphasizing governance, risk discipline and retail-led banking execution. |
| 56 | Vijay Shekhar SharmaFounder and Chief Executive Officer | Paytm | India | Digital payments, financial services, commerce and consumer technology | 82 | Vijay Shekhar Sharma kept Paytm central to India's 2019 digital-payments race through wallet scale, merchant acceptance and financial-services ambition. |
| 57 | Bhavish AggarwalCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | Ola | India | Mobility platforms, ride-hailing, electric mobility and transport technology | 81.6 | Bhavish Aggarwal maintained Ola's 2019 relevance through mobility scale, international expansion attempts and early electric-transport ambition. |
| 58 | Byju RaveendranFounder and Chief Executive Officer | BYJU'S | India | Education technology, digital learning and consumer subscriptions | 81.3 | Byju Raveendran made BYJU'S one of 2019's most prominent Asian education technology companies through consumer subscriptions, mobile learning and national brand expansion. |
| 59 | Ritesh AgarwalFounder and Chief Executive Officer | OYO Hotels & Homes | India | Hospitality technology, budget hotels, franchising and travel accommodation | 81 | Ritesh Agarwal made OYO one of 2019's most visible Asian hospitality startups through rapid international expansion and standardized budget-accommodation ambition. |
| 60 | Deepinder GoyalFounder and Chief Executive Officer | Zomato | India | Food discovery, restaurant technology, delivery and consumer platforms | 80.7 | Deepinder Goyal strengthened Zomato's 2019 role in food discovery, restaurant data, delivery and India's evolving urban dining economy. |
| 61 | Kiran Mazumdar-ShawChairperson and Managing Director | Biocon | India | Biopharmaceuticals, biosimilars, research and affordable medicine | 80.4 | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw sustained Biocon's 2019 importance in biosimilars, affordable biologics and India's higher-value pharmaceutical innovation. |
| 62 | Rajiv BajajManaging Director | Bajaj Auto | India | Motorcycles, three-wheelers, exports and mobility manufacturing | 80.1 | Rajiv Bajaj kept Bajaj Auto influential in 2019 through motorcycle exports, brand discipline and manufacturing specialization in mobility categories. |
| 63 | Sanjiv MehtaChairman and Managing Director | Hindustan Unilever | India | Consumer goods, personal care, home care and packaged foods | 79.8 | Sanjiv Mehta led Hindustan Unilever's 2019 consumer relevance through broad distribution, brand trust and portfolio discipline across Indian households. |
| 64 | Kenichi AyukawaManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer | Maruti Suzuki India | India / Japan | Passenger vehicles, automotive manufacturing and distribution | 79.5 | Kenichi Ayukawa remained central to India's 2019 auto market through Maruti Suzuki's scale, distribution strength and mass-market product leadership. |
| 65 | Tony FernandesGroup Chief Executive Officer | AirAsia Group | Malaysia | Low-cost aviation, travel platforms and regional connectivity | 79.2 | Tony Fernandes sustained AirAsia's 2019 regional influence through low-cost aviation, digital travel services and cross-border Southeast Asian connectivity. |
| 66 | Suphachai ChearavanontChief Executive Officer | Charoen Pokphand Group | Thailand | Food, retail, telecommunications, agriculture and diversified consumer infrastructure | 78.8 | Suphachai Chearavanont guided CP Group's 2019 diversification across food, retail, telecom and regional consumer infrastructure. |
| 67 | Roongrote RangsiyopashPresident and Chief Executive Officer | The Siam Cement Public Company | Thailand | Cement, chemicals, packaging and industrial materials | 78.5 | Roongrote Rangsiyopash kept Siam Cement central to 2019 ASEAN industrial development through materials, chemicals, packaging and regional capacity. |
| 68 | Aloke LohiaGroup Chief Executive Officer | Indorama Ventures | Thailand | Petrochemicals, packaging materials, fibers and global manufacturing | 78.2 | Aloke Lohia expanded Indorama Ventures' 2019 global materials platform across PET, fibers, packaging inputs and industrial supply chains. |
| 69 | Chansin TreenuchagronPresident and Chief Executive Officer | PTT | Thailand | Energy, gas, oil, petrochemicals and national infrastructure | 77.9 | Chansin Treenuchagron led PTT in 2019 as Thailand's central energy company, balancing hydrocarbons, petrochemicals and national infrastructure obligations. |
| 70 | Nicke WidyawatiPresident Director | Pertamina | Indonesia | Energy, oil, gas, refining and national fuel infrastructure | 77.6 | Nicke Widyawati held one of Asia's most important 2019 energy leadership roles through Pertamina's refining, distribution and national fuel responsibilities. |
| 71 | Jahja SetiaatmadjaPresident Director | Bank Central Asia | Indonesia | Banking, payments, deposits and consumer financial services | 77.3 | Jahja Setiaatmadja sustained BCA's 2019 standing as Indonesia's premier transaction bank through deposits, payments and service quality. |
| 72 | Nguyen Thi Phuong ThaoPresident and Chief Executive Officer | VietJet Air | Vietnam | Low-cost aviation, travel, tourism and consumer mobility | 77 | Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao strengthened VietJet's 2019 profile as Vietnam's leading private airline and a major force in affordable regional travel. |
| 73 | Pham Nhat VuongFounder and Chairman with chief executive authority | Vingroup | Vietnam | Real estate, retail, technology, vehicles and integrated consumer platforms | 76.7 | Pham Nhat Vuong made Vingroup one of 2019's most ambitious Vietnamese enterprises through urban development, consumer services and the move into industrial technology. |
| 74 | Nguyen Dang QuangChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Masan Group | Vietnam | Consumer goods, food, retail, mining and integrated consumer platforms | 76.4 | Nguyen Dang Quang advanced Masan's 2019 consumer-platform strategy across food, beverages, retail adjacency and Vietnamese household consumption. |
| 75 | Jaime Augusto Zobel de AyalaChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Ayala Corporation | Philippines | Diversified holdings, property, banking, telecom, water, energy and infrastructure | 76.1 | Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala guided Ayala Corporation's 2019 role in Philippine property, banking, telecom, infrastructure and institutional governance. |
| 76 | Lance GokongweiPresident and Chief Executive Officer | JG Summit Holdings | Philippines | Airlines, food, real estate, petrochemicals and consumer holdings | 75.8 | Lance Gokongwei led JG Summit's 2019 diversified platform across airlines, food, property and petrochemicals with strong consumer-market exposure. |
| 77 | Ernest CuPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Globe Telecom | Philippines | Telecommunications, mobile data, broadband and digital services | 75.4 | Ernest Cu kept Globe Telecom influential in 2019 through mobile data adoption, broadband expansion and digital-service participation in the Philippines. |
| 78 | Enrique Razon Jr.Chairman and President | ICTSI | Philippines | Ports, terminals, logistics and infrastructure | 75.1 | Enrique Razon Jr. sustained ICTSI's 2019 global terminal influence, linking Philippine enterprise with ports and logistics infrastructure across multiple regions. |
| 79 | Lee Chee KoonGroup Chief Executive Officer | CapitaLand | Singapore | Real estate, integrated developments, malls, lodging and investment platforms | 74.8 | Lee Chee Koon led CapitaLand in 2019 through a transformative real estate combination that expanded its investment, lodging and development platform. |
| 80 | Sherman KwekGroup Chief Executive Officer | City Developments Limited | Singapore | Real estate development, hotels, investment properties and sustainability-led urban assets | 74.5 | Sherman Kwek strengthened CDL's 2019 generational leadership profile through residential execution, global assets and sustainability-oriented real estate strategy. |
| 81 | Loh Chin HuaChief Executive Officer | Keppel Corporation | Singapore | Offshore engineering, infrastructure, energy, property and urban solutions | 74.2 | Loh Chin Hua guided Keppel's 2019 transition from offshore-cycle pressure toward infrastructure, energy, property and urban-solutions resilience. |
| 82 | Tan Min-LiangCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | Razer | Singapore | Gaming hardware, software, fintech and gamer ecosystems | 73.9 | Tan Min-Liang kept Razer prominent in 2019 through gaming hardware, software ecosystems, esports culture and early fintech ambitions. |
| 83 | William TanuwijayaCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | Tokopedia | Indonesia | E-commerce, marketplace platforms, merchant tools and digital commerce | 73.6 | William Tanuwijaya made Tokopedia a defining 2019 Indonesian marketplace through merchant enablement, consumer reach and domestic digital-commerce depth. |
| 84 | Li BinFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | NIO | China | Electric vehicles, smart mobility, batteries and premium automotive services | 73.3 | Li Bin kept NIO strategically visible in 2019 despite severe operating pressure, advancing premium EV identity, service systems and user-community differentiation. |
| 85 | Xu LiCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | SenseTime | China | Artificial intelligence, computer vision, smart city and enterprise AI | 73 | Xu Li made SenseTime one of 2019's most visible Asian AI companies through computer vision, enterprise deployments and smart-city technology. |
| 86 | Su HuaCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer | Kuaishou | China | Short video, live streaming, creator platforms and social commerce | 72.7 | Su Hua expanded Kuaishou's 2019 influence in short video, live streaming and creator-led social commerce across China's mass-market internet users. |
| 87 | Chen RuiChairman and Chief Executive Officer | Bilibili | China | Online video, animation, gaming, youth culture and community platforms | 72.3 | Chen Rui strengthened Bilibili's 2019 position as a youth-culture platform around video, animation, gaming and community engagement. |
| 88 | Eric JingExecutive Chairman with chief executive authority | Ant Financial | China | Digital payments, fintech, wealth, credit technology and financial infrastructure | 72 | Eric Jing kept Ant Financial central to 2019 Asian fintech through digital payments, wealth services, credit technology and financial-inclusion infrastructure. |
| 89 | Zhu JiushengPresident and Chief Executive Officer | China Vanke | China | Residential development, urban services, rental housing and property management | 71.7 | Zhu Jiusheng led China Vanke's 2019 operational agenda as the developer balanced residential scale with urban services and rental-housing initiatives. |
| 90 | Wu YajunFounder and Chairwoman with chief executive authority | Longfor Group | China | Residential development, shopping centers, rental housing and property services | 71.4 | Wu Yajun sustained Longfor's 2019 reputation for quality residential products, retail destinations and disciplined urban development. |
| 91 | Sun HongbinFounder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Sunac China Holdings | China | Residential development, cultural tourism and urban asset consolidation | 71.1 | Sun Hongbin kept Sunac China influential in 2019 through high-volume residential development, portfolio expansion and cultural-tourism asset ambitions. |
| 92 | Xu JiayinChairman with chief executive authority | China Evergrande Group | China | Residential development, property platforms and diversified consumer ambitions | 70.8 | Xu Jiayin remained a highly visible 2019 property leader through Evergrande's national residential scale and diversification into mobility and consumer-facing ventures. |
| 93 | Amit JainGroup Chief Executive Officer | Emaar Properties | United Arab Emirates | Master-planned communities, premium residential, retail, hospitality and destination development | 70.5 | Amit Jain led Emaar's 2019 operating platform across premium communities, downtown assets, retail-led destinations and international development. |
| 94 | Sultan Ahmed bin SulayemGroup Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | DP World | United Arab Emirates | Ports, logistics, maritime services and trade infrastructure | 70.2 | Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem kept DP World central to 2019 global trade through ports, logistics and maritime infrastructure expansion. |
| 95 | Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al MaktoumChairman and Chief Executive | Emirates Group | United Arab Emirates | Airlines, aviation services, airports and global connectivity | 69.9 | Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum sustained Emirates Group's 2019 global aviation relevance through long-haul connectivity, airline scale and Dubai's travel hub role. |
| 96 | Akbar Al BakerGroup Chief Executive | Qatar Airways Group | Qatar | Airlines, aviation services, premium travel and global connectivity | 69.5 | Akbar Al Baker kept Qatar Airways prominent in 2019 through network resilience, premium service positioning and global aviation competitiveness. |
| 97 | Sultan Ahmed Al JaberGroup Chief Executive Officer | ADNOC Group | United Arab Emirates | Energy, oil, gas, petrochemicals and industrial partnerships | 69.2 | Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber advanced ADNOC's 2019 modernization through partnerships, downstream expansion, technology adoption and value-focused energy strategy. |
| 98 | Yousef Al-BenyanVice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | SABIC | Saudi Arabia | Chemicals, petrochemicals, materials and industrial innovation | 68.9 | Yousef Al-Benyan led SABIC's 2019 global chemicals platform through materials innovation, petrochemical scale and Saudi industrial diversification. |
| 99 | Shayne NelsonGroup Chief Executive Officer | Emirates NBD | United Arab Emirates | Banking, digital finance, corporate banking and regional financial services | 68.6 | Shayne Nelson guided Emirates NBD's 2019 growth through digital banking, regional expansion and the financial infrastructure of Dubai's economy. |
| 100 | Saad Sherida Al-KaabiPresident and Chief Executive Officer | Qatar Petroleum | Qatar | Energy, LNG, gas, petrochemicals and national industrial strategy | 68.3 | Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi held a major 2019 energy leadership role through Qatar's LNG expansion strategy, gas competitiveness and national industrial positioning. |
No leaders match the current filters.
Methodology
How InfluenceAsia Built The Ranking
2019 Enterprise Contribution
The leader's visible contribution during the 2019 annual window, including operating performance, strategic decisions, business expansion, capital formation, product relevance and sector modernization.
Leadership Execution and Judgment
The leader's ability to direct complex organizations, allocate capital, manage risk, build executive systems, maintain operating rhythm and make consequential decisions under 2019 conditions.
Innovation and Transformation
The leader's role in advancing digital platforms, semiconductors, new mobility, fintech, cloud, AI, consumer ecosystems, industrial modernization, health innovation or energy transition capabilities.
Asia Relevance
The importance of the leader's work to Asian consumers, households, enterprises, labor markets, infrastructure, supply chains, financial systems, urban growth and regional competitiveness.
Institutional Credibility
Governance posture, stakeholder trust, public-market credibility, regulatory navigation, leadership succession quality, disclosure culture and ability to sustain confidence.
Public and Market Signal
The leader's visibility in public markets, strategic transactions, major launches, ecosystem formation, industry expectations and the wider business narrative of 2019.
Strategic Durability
The strength of the leader's 2019 platform as a foundation for continued enterprise relevance beyond the annual window.
InfluenceAsia formed a 2019 leadership universe across Asia-based and Asia-centered enterprises, including public companies, private platforms, family-controlled groups, state-linked operating enterprises and strategic institutions with clear chief executive responsibility.
Leaders were reviewed for active chief executive authority during the 2019 editorial window. Eligible titles include Chief Executive Officer, Group CEO, President, Managing Director, President Director, executive founder-operator and executive chair where the role carried direct strategic and operating responsibility.
Each eligible leader was assessed across seven weighted dimensions: 2019 enterprise contribution, leadership execution, innovation, Asia relevance, institutional credibility, public-market signal and strategic durability.
The list is written as a 2019 annual edition. InfluenceAsia does not use later leadership exits, later controversies, subsequent restructurings, future market reversals or later company outcomes to rewrite the influence profile visible in 2019.
The final list balances technology, finance, semiconductors, energy, mobility, consumer platforms, industrials, telecom, aviation, real estate, health care, logistics, education technology and diversified conglomerates across East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia.
Scores are comparative InfluenceAsia editorial scores. They are not audited performance ratings, compensation rankings, governance certifications, investment opinions, employment recommendations or succession endorsements.
Each entry is drafted in formal publication language suitable for InfluenceAsia-branded ranking pages, executive profiles, annual leadership features, institutional tables and structured web content.
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Copyright, Research Notes And Legal Disclaimers
Copyright 2019 InfluenceAsia. All rights reserved. InfluenceAsia 100: Asia's Top CEOs 2019, including the ranking structure, scoring presentation, methodology language, leader profiles and editorial rationales, is prepared as an original InfluenceAsia editorial and research work.
The ranking is independently selected, organized, written and presented by InfluenceAsia for editorial publication. No inclusion, rank position, score or profile text should be read as paid placement, sponsored recognition, nomination, certification, employment validation or executive endorsement.
Inclusion in InfluenceAsia 100: Asia's Top CEOs 2019 does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, partnership, approval, data submission, nomination, payment or participation by any leader, company, shareholder, board, investor, government body, employee group, customer or supplier.
The ranking is an editorial and research product. It is not investment advice, legal advice, tax advice, credit analysis, governance certification, executive due diligence, employment screening, compensation advice, succession advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, finance, hire, appoint, remove, partner with or rely on any person or company.
Leader names, company names, markets, roles, sectors and descriptions are presented within the 2019 editorial window and should be checked before republication where titles, responsibilities, company names, ownership, listings, leadership status or corporate organization may change.
Executive leadership is exposed to strategic, operational, regulatory, financial, technological, reputational, governance, geopolitical and market-cycle risks. InfluenceAsia's inclusion of a leader recognizes 2019 editorial influence and does not certify ethics, compliance, solvency, governance quality, personal conduct, future performance or corporate resilience.
The dataset may be used to prepare InfluenceAsia-branded ranking pages, annual features, executive profiles, institutional tables and structured web content, provided the InfluenceAsia ranking identity, 2019 publication perspective and editorial integrity are preserved.