Hong Kong Activist Investor David Webb Passes Away at 60

David M. Webb MBE, a prominent activist investor, passed away on January 13, 2026, in Hong Kong at the age of 60. His family confirmed that he died peacefully after a battle with metastatic prostate cancer. They requested privacy during this difficult time.

Legacy of David Webb

Webb was a well-known figure among retail investors in Hong Kong. He stood out as a champion for transparency in a corporate environment often criticized for its lack of accountability. His website, Webb-site, was a crucial resource for investors, regulators, and legal professionals until its closure in late 2025.

Commitment to Fairness

In 2024, Webb articulated his guiding principle, which he described as “fairness.” He emphasized the importance of providing complete information to empower individuals in making informed decisions across various domains, including finance and politics.

Career Highlights

• Born in Britain and relocated to Hong Kong in 1991.
• Retired from investment banking in 1998 after achieving financial stability.
• Active advocate for corporate transparency and tax reform.
• Founded Webb-site in 1998 to highlight irregularities in the financial sector.
• Exposed the “Enigma Network” in 2017, revealing extensive cross-shareholdings in 50 companies, causing a $6 billion market crash.

Webb served on various financial panels, including Hong Kong’s Takeovers and Mergers Panel, and acted as an independent director for the city’s stock exchange operator. He faced resistance from entrenched interests but maintained that he was not adversarial.

Advocacy and Activism

A permanent resident of Hong Kong, Webb believed in the city’s unique identity separate from mainland China. He played an active role during significant political movements, including the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the pro-democracy protests in 2019. He criticized Hong Kong’s authorities and warned about the perils of rising authoritarianism in 2025, which he believed jeopardized the region’s economic framework.

Final Thoughts

Reflecting on his life’s work, Webb expressed certainty about his commitment to Hong Kong. He wanted to be remembered for his contributions to society and insisted that he had done his best.