Hong Kong Activist Investor David Webb Dies at 60 After Battle with Prostate Cancer

Prominent Hong Kong activist investor and corporate governance advocate David Webb has died at the age of 60 after battling metastatic prostate cancer.

Webb passed away peacefully in Hong Kong on January 13, 2026, his family announced on his social media accounts. They expressed that he will be deeply missed by family, friends, and supporters, and requested privacy during this difficult time.

A British-born Oxford mathematics graduate, Webb moved to Hong Kong in 1991 and became a permanent resident. After retiring early from finance at age 32 in 1998, he founded the non-profit Webb-site.com, a widely used free database promoting transparency in corporate governance, company filings, market data, and more.

Known as the “Long Hair” of the stock market for his outspoken style, Webb championed minority shareholder rights and exposed corporate misconduct. He served as an independent non-executive director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) from 2003 to 2008, pushing for better transparency and investor protections.

His most impactful work was the 2017 “Enigma Network” report, which named 50 Hong Kong-listed companies with opaque cross-shareholdings and warned investors to avoid them. The report triggered sharp share price drops, multiple suspensions, and a major Securities and Futures Commission investigation.

Webb revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2020 and, in February 2025, announced plans to wind down Webb-site.com as his health declined, with life now measured in months. His final satirical post appeared on December 15, 2025.

In recent interviews, including with the BBC, he remained optimistic about Hong Kong’s future, praising its economic vitality and low-tax system while calling for greater transparency, shareholder remedies, and diversification of listings beyond mainland firms.

HKEX expressed sadness at his passing, with Chairman Carlson Tong highlighting Webb’s lasting contributions to market development and corporate governance.