Edmund Tse, the retiring chairman of AIA Group, isn’t your typical executive. After "retiring" at 71 in 2009, the global financial crisis yanked him back into the game—where he not only steered the company through a massive IPO but stuck around for another 14 years. His second act outshone many careers, proving that sometimes the best work happens after the supposed finish line.

Editor’s Note: Tse’s story isn’t just about corporate resilience—it’s a reminder that experience and adaptability often trump rigid retirement timelines. In an era obsessed with youth and disruption, his legacy challenges the idea that leadership has an expiration date. For AIA and its investors, his tenure was a stability anchor; for everyone else, it’s a lesson in valuing seasoned vision.