In this Aug 19, 2020 file photo, people wearing protective masks walk past signage for Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd (HKEX) displayed at the Exchange Square complex in Hong Kong, China. (ROY LIU / BLOOMBERG)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced on Sunday that it has appointed Calvin Tai Chi Kin as interim chief executive to succeed Charles Li Xiaojia effective Jan 1.

According to the announcement, Tai has been appointed as interim chief executive of HKEX and an ex-officio member of the Board of HKEX, while continuing his role as co-president and chief operating officer of HKEX.

Tai, aged 58, joined the HKEX Group in July 1998.

Li retired from his role as chief executive of HKEX and ceased to be an ex-officio member of the Board on Dec. 31, 2020.

Li retired from his role as chief executive of HKEX and ceased to be an ex-officio member of the Board on Dec. 31, 2020

The Board said in the announcement that over the past 11 years of Li's tenure as chief executive, HKEX has successfully transformed from a regional stock exchange into one of the world's premier market infrastructure groups.

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Li has been appointed as senior advisor to the Board for six months effective Jan 1, HKEX added. 

In the first nine months of 2020, the exchange's average stock trading volumes rose 51 percent, while total raised equity funds, in both IPOs and secondary listings, more than doubled. Daily trading through the bourse’s link to mainland exchanges hit records in the year through September.

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