David Michael Webb

David Webb, the relentless shareholder activist and former investment banker who became the 'conscience' of Hong Kong's financial markets, passed away on January 13, 2026. He was 60 years old. His family confirmed that he died in Hong Kong following a courageous six-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer. A British-born mathematician and former computer programmer, Webb moved to Hong Kong in 1991 and eventually dedicated his life to exposing corporate malfeasance and championing the rights of minority shareholders.

Webb founded the non-profit platform Webb-site.com in 1998, turning it into an indispensable resource for investors, journalists, and regulators. He famously exposed the 'Enigma Network' in 2017, a complex web of 50 listed companies with dubious cross-shareholdings, which triggered one of the largest regulatory crackdowns in the city's history. His meticulous, data-driven investigations earned him a reputation as a fearless watchdog in a financial hub often criticized for its opacity.

Despite his diagnosis in 2020, Webb continued his advocacy work with undiminished vigor, believing that transparency was the bedrock of a fair society. He served as an independent director of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the community. In his final years, he expressed a hope that his work would leave a lasting legacy of better governance.

He is survived by his wife, Karen, and their two children. Tributes from across the financial and political spectrum have described him as a giant of integrity who forced the powerful to be accountable. His passing leaves a significant void in Hong Kong's corporate landscape, where he stood as a solitary but formidable force for justice.