Yulingbo Mao (“Mao”) is the Head of Asia Pacific at Control Risks VANTAGE, the third-party due diligence and financial crime compliance practice. Mao has more than 14 years of experience in integrity due diligence, financial crime compliance, and investigative research. She has worked as a researcher, investigator, research director, and regional practice lead on due diligence and investigative assignments of varying scale across Asia Pacific.
Recent tasks that Yulingbo has worked on include:
- Assisted financial institutions in conducting enhanced due diligence ahead of IPOs, SPACs, debt issuances, direct investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other capital-market transactions.
- Led large-scale due diligence and background research assignments involving multiple jurisdictions across APAC and globally, gathering information around the backgrounds, business operations, track records, and reputations of companies and individuals.
- Managed bespoke research and investigative assignments triggered by internal escalations, disputes or regulatory inquiries. Looked into specific allegations and topics such as bribery and corruption, professional and personal misconduct, conflict of interest, political and sanctions exposure, involvement in high-risk jurisdictions and sectors, fraud and other financial crimes.
- Advised private banking and wealth management clients on the reputation, legal and financial risks associated with high-net-worth individuals and business families. Helped clients develop intelligence around career history, business interests, industry standing, integrity, and source of wealth.
- Helped compliance professionals of multinational corporations design and implement third-party screening and due diligence programs. Took internal compliance framework and requirements, local business and political environments, and sector- and jurisdiction-specific nuances into consideration.
Prior to joining Control Risks, Mao was the Head of Hong Kong, Senior Director and a member of the Operating Committee of a leading international investigative research firm, where she led the firm’s research and commercial efforts in Greater China and North Asia. She has worked, in a senior capacity, at multinational risk consultancies, as well as in the Business and Client Intelligence Unit of Deutsche Bank. Her experience covers a wide range of industries including financial services and banking, technology, telecommunications, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
Mao is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker who is also fluent in English and Cantonese. A Certified Fraud Examiner (“CFE”), she holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.