Considerable differences in reactivity and selectivity for 2-hydroxypyridine (2-HP) derived ruthenium complexes in transfer hydrogenation are described. Bifunctional Ru(ii)-(phenpy-OH) [phenpy-OH: 2-(2-pyridyl-2-ol)-1,10-phenanthroline] complex () exhibited excellent catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones and nitriles. Notably, in comparison with all the reported 2-hydroxypyridine (2-HP) derived ruthenium complexes in transfer hydrogenation, complex displayed significantly higher activity. Additionally, exploiting the metal-ligand cooperativity in complex , chemoselective TH of ketones was achieved and sterically demanding ketones were readily reduced. An outer-sphere mechanism is proposed for this system as exogenous PPh3 has no significant effect on the rate of this reaction. This is a rare example of a highly active bifunctional Ru(ii) catalyst bearing only one 2-HP unit.