Our Team
Our team comprises experienced professionals with backgrounds in fiduciary services, corporate governance, and regulated financial environments.
We uphold the highest standards of integrity, independence, and professionalism in the discharge of our fiduciary duties. Guided by robust internal controls and governance frameworks, we act in the best interests of our clients and beneficiaries, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Key Person
RYAN THEAN
CEO & Director
Ryan Thean brings more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a career spanning retail and private banking at leading international financial institutions. Throughout his banking career, Ryan advised local and international high-net-worth and institutional clients, managing diversified wealth portfolios with combined assets exceeding RM1 billion. His expertise encompasses cross-border wealth structuring, estate and succession planning, private and corporate trust structures, and multi-jurisdictional wealth management.
He also brings experience in corporate finance advisory, including project financing, corporate restructuring and acquisition transactions. Working closely with legal advisers, corporate stakeholders and other professional advisers, Ryan has been involved in the establishment and administration of complex trust and wealth structures, with a strong focus on governance, continuity and fiduciary oversight.
Ryan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and is a Level III Candidate in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program.
As Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Trustee Berhad, Ryan provides strategic leadership and oversight across governance, fiduciary responsibility, regulatory compliance and operational management. His combination of banking, wealth management, corporate finance and trust experience supports Vanguard Trustee Berhad’s commitment to professional excellence, responsible stewardship and the long-term preservation and continuity of clients’ asset.
MARCUS TAN
Director
Marcus Tan brings extensive experience across trust and fiduciary services, financial services, digital assets, and business development, with a strong focus on wealth planning, strategic partnerships, and client solutions.
His experience includes working with high-net-worth individuals, corporate clients, institutional investors, professional advisers, and strategic partners across Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asian market. He has been actively involved in trust and succession planning, business development, client acquisition, strategic partnerships, financial product development, and digital asset solutions.
Marcus previously held senior roles within the trust and digital asset sectors, where he was responsible for developing business operations, building strategic partnerships, recruiting and training teams, conducting client presentations, and driving market expansion. He has also led fundraising initiatives, industry events, and commercial development projects, giving him a strong understanding of both the technical and commercial aspects of modern wealth solutions.
His experience in digital assets further provides him with a unique perspective on the evolving needs of wealth owners, particularly in areas involving digital asset custody, digital asset structuring, asset protection, succession planning, and intergenerational wealth transfer.
Marcus holds a Double Degree in Software Engineering from APIIT and Staffordshire University. His combination of financial services experience, technical knowledge, and commercial expertise enables him to take a holistic approach to wealth planning and develop solutions aligned with clients' long-term objectives.
At Vanguard Trustee Berhad, Marcus focuses on building strategic relationships and introducing professional wealth planning and fiduciary solutions to clients and partners, supporting the preservation, protection, and continuity of wealth across generations.
DAVID CHAU
Legal Advisor
David Chau is an experienced legal practitioner with extensive expertise in corporate and commercial transactions, trustee advisory, venture capital investments, and capital markets transactions, including IPOs and sukuk issuances. Since beginning his legal practice in 2013, he has advised clients on a wide range of corporate, regulatory, and trust-related matters, particularly within the financial services and capital markets sectors.
He is the Managing Partner of David Chau & Artika, and has significant experience advising on trust structures, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. His work includes supporting the establishment of trust structures, advising on trustee-related legal documentation, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and corporate governance frameworks.
In addition to trust advisory work, he regularly advises on corporate finance transactions, joint ventures, and capital markets matters, and has extensive experience conducting due diligence for project financing, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring exercises. He also frequently liaises with regulatory authorities and assists clients in establishing representative offices and family offices, as well as drafting a wide range of corporate and commercial agreements.
