EastWest Bank proudly takes home the Gold Stevie® Award for Excellence in Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources at the prestigious 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, marking a major milestone in its journey toward a more agile, people-first workplace.
Held on May 13, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea, the annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards honor innovation across 29 countries—making this win a standout moment for EastWest’s people-led, tech-powered transformation strategy.
Powering People with Purpose
At the heart of EastWest’s achievement is the People Advantage Gameplan—a bold, two-year HR transformation program designed to integrate technology with human connection.
Built entirely in-house using Microsoft Power Platform tools, EastWest’s HR team rolled out an end-to-end digital ecosystem—no external vendors, just smart automation with heart. From onboarding and employee dashboards to wellness, loans, recognition, and offboarding, every touchpoint was reimagined to deliver seamless, scalable, and empowering experiences for employees.
The Results? Real, Measurable, Human.
- 🟢 +8 points in employee satisfaction (69% in 2022 → 77% in 2024), with 93% of employees expressing intent to stay in the next 2 years
- 🟢 +4-point boost in engagement (73% in 2022 → 77% in 2024)
- 🟢 18% net headcount growth, the highest hiring levels in over 10 years
- 🟢 10-point drop in attrition, aligning with the best in the industry
More Than Tech—It’s About Trust
What sets EastWest apart is its deep focus on authentic human connection. The transformation was shaped by employee-led storytelling campaigns, open dialogue with leaders, and listening sessions with the CEO—ensuring that every innovation was grounded in what truly matters: people.
“We’ve always believed that technology should serve people—not replace them. That belief drives everything we do,” said Atty. Juan Alfonso “Alfie” Suarez, Chief People, Corporate Services, and Sustainability Officer at EastWest. “This recognition validates our purpose—and inspires us to keep building a workplace that grows with our people, our customers, and our communities.”
Future-Ready and Human-Centered
With this win, EastWest continues to champion a future-forward HR model—where customer centricity, innovation, and shared value intersect. The bank remains committed to evolving its digital infrastructure while keeping the human experience at its core.
For more on EastWest’s award-winning people strategies, visit www.eastwestbanker.com.
