Chris Matten
Chartered accountant with 30+ years in banking and financial services, specialising in enterprise risk, capital management and compliance with a strong Asia-Pacific focus.
CFO Profile
Chris is a highly experienced fractional CFO and banking professional with more than 30 years' experience across banking and financial services. He has held senior executive and advisory roles with major international financial institutions, helping organisations solve complex financial challenges, strengthen governance and develop effective financial strategies.
His expertise spans financial control, enterprise risk management, capital management and regulatory matters, enabling him to provide balanced, commercially focused advice across both finance and risk. Having worked extensively across Asia as both an executive and consultant, Chris brings significant international experience and a practical approach to supporting boards and leadership teams through complex business issues, organisational change and strategic decision-making.
Chris is recognised for his calm, analytical approach and his ability to navigate high-pressure situations, providing trusted financial leadership to businesses facing significant operational, regulatory or strategic challenges.
CFO Highlights
- More than 30 years' leadership experience across banking and financial services.
- Former CFO of a publicly listed bank in Singapore.
- Extensive international experience, including senior roles in Switzerland, Australia and Singapore.
- Expertise spanning financial control, enterprise risk management and capital management.
- Strong background in regulatory compliance and investigations.
- Proven track record managing complex acquisitions and crisis-related situations.
- Experienced executive adviser to boards and senior leadership teams.
- Regularly engaged with analysts and credit rating agencies.
- Media-trained spokesperson with appearances on Bloomberg TV and Channel News Asia.
- First Class BA (Hons) and LLB from London University, and qualified Chartered Accountant.
Case Studies
Unwinding Lehman Brothers Minibonds in Singapore
After the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008, SGD 1 billion of “minibonds” – a complex financial instrument involving various interest and credit default swaps – which had been sold to retail investors in Singapore became frozen.
Although the bonds were backed by high-quality collateral (US Government bonds), the swaps had Lehman Brothers as the counterparty. Chris worked with the trustee bank, HSBC, to unwind the swaps.
This was a complex process involving legal issues under US, English and Singapore law, as well as the valuation of esoteric credit default swaps. After much negotiation, Chris was able to recover around 97 cents on the dollar for the retail investors.
Issuance of innovative capital instruments
While Head of Balance Sheet Management at National Australia Bank, Chris led the project to issue a groundbreaking form of capital, so-called Alternative Tier 1, which can be used by banks in place of ordinary equity.
This was the first such instrument to be issued to retail investors and was so successful that the initial offering of AUD 1 billion was doubled within two weeks, bringing the total issuance to AUD 2 billion.
Takeover of Keppel TatLee Bank
While CFO at OCBC, one of Singapore’s banks, Chris co-led the project to take over another, smaller local bank. This included producing a valuation, working with the investment bank advising OCBC, and raising the additional capital required.
The takeover was very successful, with the total goodwill easily supported by the cost savings achieved immediately after the merger. Chris was awarded “CFO of the Year” by The Asian Banker magazine for this project.
More of our finance experts
Our CFOs and Finance Directors become an extension of your team—fully aligned, on your side, and committed to your success.
Patrick Wetzels
Experienced CFO with 25+ years leading finance transformation, M&A integration and growth across PE-backed, technology and international businesses.
Lucy Hoye
ACA qualified Fractional CFO specialising in recruitment and professional services
Rebecca Curnock
PwC-trained fractional CFO partnering with founder-led businesses on fundraising, cashflow, financial modelling, cap table analysis and scalable finance function design.
Sas Nathar
ACA-qualified Fractional CFO helping start-ups, scale-ups and charities raise finance, transform operations and build scalable, insight-led finance functions.
Anthony Brice
ACCA-qualified finance leader with expertise across technology, construction and professional services, helping businesses from start-up to established organisations through growth, change management, acquisitions and post-acquisition integration.
Paul Carey
Big 4-trained, FCA-qualified CFO with a track record in PE-backed growth, M&A, 15x revenue scaling and exit readiness across B2B, B2C and SaaS businesses.
Let's find the right match for your business.
View our full list of CFO & FD profiles.
