HONG KONG, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Longbridge Group, an AI-native financial technology company, today announced the appointment of Henry Zhong as Chief Executive Officer of Long Bridge HK Limited ("Longbridge Hong Kong"), effective immediately. Zhong will lead the Group's securities business in Hong Kong and drive its strategic development.

Zhong joins from SPDB International, where he most recently served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. His appointment follows that of Gavin Chia as Singapore and Regional CEO, Southeast Asia, in May 2026. Together they form a leadership team covering Longbridge's two core growth corridors in Asia.

A Regional Platform Built for Scale

Asia is home to some of the world's deepest pools of investable wealth and most active investor communities. Hong Kong sits at its centre: an international financial hub, a gateway for cross border capital and one of Asia's most mature regulatory environments.

Investor behaviour across the region is changing quickly. Portfolios now span markets, asset classes and trading sessions, and investors have more information to process than ever before. They want platforms that offer market access together with institutional quality research, strong technology and tools that support well informed decisions.

Zhong's appointment reflects Longbridge's ambition to build the trusted infrastructure that connects investors, financial institutions, AI and global financial markets with Hong Kong at its core. It also marks the Group's move into a new stage of growth, in which its technology and product innovation are matched by the governance, risk discipline and regulatory standards expected of a long established financial institution.

"As Longbridge enters its next phase, we are bringing in leaders who have built and run licensed businesses inside major financial institutions," said Nowa Zhu, Group CEO & Co-Founder of Longbridge Group. "Henry has a strong track record in leading and scaling investment banking and securities businesses, as well as taking businesses from licence application to scale. He understands the needs of sophisticated investors, and he has operated at the highest regulatory standards throughout his career. That combination is exactly what we need to grow at scale, responsibly and sustainably."

"Henry's institutional experience, combined with Longbridge's technology and AI capabilities, strengthens our foundation for long term growth in Hong Kong."

A Banking Veteran Bets on AI-Native Investing

Zhong brings nearly two decades of experience spanning commercial banking, investment banking and securities, overseeing regulated activities across investment banking, securities brokerage, private wealth, research and FICC businesses.

That experience gave him a front-row view of how quickly financial services are changing. AI is reshaping how research is produced, how trading and advisory workflows operate, and how investors find, assess and act on opportunities. In his view, the next generation of financial leaders will be those that can combine institutional discipline and regulatory rigour with technology at scale.

"I have spent my career building licensed financial businesses and have seen firsthand where the traditional model is being redefined," said Henry Zhong, CEO of Longbridge Hong Kong. "Investors today expect intelligence, speed and transparency that conventional platforms were not designed to deliver. Longbridge was built for this moment, with AI at its core and a clear commitment to operating to the highest regulatory standards. I chose Longbridge because it is where institutional experience and technology can create the most value for investors, and that is where I want to build the next chapter of my career."

"Sustainable growth in financial services is built on trust, and trust is built on robust risk management and compliance. The role of AI is not to make decisions for investors, but to give them better information and better tools so they can act with greater confidence," said Zhong.

Bringing Longbridge's AI Capabilities to the Region

Longbridge builds AI into its investment platform across research, market analysis and trading workflows, rather than treating it as a standalone feature. In 2025, the company became the world-first to introduce pre-market trading for selected U.S. stock options. In July 2026, it unveiled a broader suite of AI powered investment products and open technology platforms for investors and developers.

A key part of Zhong's mandate is to bring these capabilities to wider group of investors. Products and services will be designed around local investor needs and delivered in accordance with the regulatory requirements of each market in which Longbridge operates.

His appointment is part of Longbridge's continued investment in leadership, technology and regulated businesses across Asia as the Group scales its regional presence.

About Longbridge Group

Longbridge Group is an AI-native financial technology group building trusted infrastructure that connects investors, financial institutions, AI and global financial markets.

Its integrated ecosystem comprises Longbridge Securities, an AI-powered online brokerage; LongPort, an institutional-grade trading technology and infrastructure provider offering multi-market and multi-asset solutions; and Longbridge AI, a next-generation AI-native financial data and investing platform. Together, they are redefining how individuals and institutions access, understand and interact with financial markets.

Founded in 2019, Longbridge operates licensed financial businesses across multiple jurisdictions. It holds 22 financial regulatory licences or qualifications across the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and other markets, and has secured strategic investment from leading global financial institutions and investment firms.

Longbridge's vision is to make investing a seamless part of how people use AI every day by building trusted infrastructure for the future of intelligent investing.