David Webb, prominent Hong Kong shareholder activist, dies at 60

HONG KONG -- David Webb, one of Hong Kong ’s most vocal shareholder activists who advocated for greater corporate transparency and investor rights for decades, has died at 60.Webb, an investment banker turned activist, was well-known and widely respected in the business and financial circles in the Asia financial hub — in part for his persistent push for better corporate governance of listed Hong Kong companies and the uncovering of significant corporate malpractices.“It is with great sadness that we share that David M.Webb MBE passed away peacefully in Hong Kong on Tuesday January 13th, 2026 from metastatic prostate cancer,” a statement on his social media Tuesday said.

“David will be missed by his family, his many friends, and his supporters."His free-to-access database, Webb-site.com, for years provided a trove of company statistics and data for journalists, shareholders, financial analysts and lawyers.Founded in 1998, the nonprofit platform helped protect the rights of many minority shareholders and pushed stakeholders in moving toward greater corporate transparency.One of his most remarkable actions came in 2017, when he exposed dozens of companies in Hong Kong under the “Enigma Network” and advised investors not to own those stocks.

He uncovered previously undisclosed ties and cross-shareholdings across the companies, which subsequently led to a criminal investigation.Last year, Webb was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his work in raising corporate governance standards in Hong Kong.Born in London in 1965, Webb was working for Barclays when he was sent to Hong Kong in the 1990s, and had stayed in the city since.He was an independent director of the board of Hong Kong’s stock exchange from 2003 to 2008, when he resigned and accused the bourse of poor management.Popular ReadsState Department warns US citizens to leave VenezuelaJan 11, 10:28 PMMinneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain peaceful despite arrests...