Georges Elhedery, the chief financial officer, who led the HSBC’s markets division prior to taking a leave of absence and was elevated to the No. 2 position in January of last year, is most likely the top internal applicant for the position.
HSBC declared its stern five-year head, Noel Quinn, who has oversaw a massive asset disposal program across the globe, has announced his retirement.The bank, with a focus on Asia, announced in a statement that it has started the official process of selecting a replacement.
Georges Elhedery, the chief financial officer, who led the bank’s markets division prior to taking a leave of absence and was elevated to the No. 2 position in January of last year, is most likely the top internal applicant for the position.
By eliminating or drastically cutting the scale of unproductive businesses, such as the lender’s retail banking operations in the United States and France, its whole Canadian division, and its subsidiaries in smaller regions, Quinn, 62, has helped the bank’s profit and share price to rebound.
In the afternoon session in Hong Kong, HSBC’s shares—which have increased by about 30% during his tenure—rose by roughly 1.3% and reached a nine-month high.
“I believe that HSBC has made a wise decision in growing its Asian business while simultaneously cutting back on operations in Western markets like the U.S., Canada, and Europe,” stated Simon Yuen, the founder of Surich Asset Management, a Hong Kong-based company that has shares in HSBC.
“We do hope that the next CEO will lay out more plans, execution-wise, to further increase the bank’s businesses in Asian countries,” he stated.
Quinn has promised to stay available until the end of his 12-month notice term, which expires on April 30, 2025, to help with the transition. Quinn will continue to serve as CEO until his successor begins in the position.
“I’m personally ready for a change because I’ve held intensive leadership roles since I took on a commercial bank role in October 2008,” Quinn stated to reporters during a conference call.
“Being the conclusion of the present transition period, it’s also a logical turning point for the bank. Now is the perfect moment to take over as bank president and steer it toward success over the next five years.
By the latter part of this year, according to HSBC Chairman Mark Tucker, the bank hopes to have Quinn’s succession plan finalized.
Regarding Quinn’s plan to step down, Tucker stated, “He (Quinn) first informed me of this earlier this month.” Quinn made the choice on his own, and the board approved it.
MANAGING DIFFICULTIES
Quinn, who began working for HSBC in 1987, was appointed CEO in March 2020. The bank, which derives the majority of its profits and sales from Asia, had previously employed Quinn as an interim CEO after his predecessor was abruptly fired.
In addition to managing difficulties during and after the coronavirus pandemic, he also helped the bank navigate through increased geopolitical tensions that affected its main market, China.
Additionally, he prevailed in a significant battle against Ping An Insurance of China, the bank’s top Asian investor, which attempted unsuccessfully for several years to persuade HSBC to split off its Asia division at the bank’s annual shareholders meeting.
Western lawmakers have also criticized HSBC in recent years for its business relations with China in the midst of escalating geopolitical tensions. Hong Kong stands as HSBC’s most significant worldwide market.
As it struggles to manage growing costs from expansion in Asia, HSBC reported pretax profit for the quarter ended in March of $12.7 billion, slightly over estimates, compared to $12.9 billion a year earlier.
In addition to the $2 billion in share buybacks, the bank, with its headquarters in London, announced $3 billion in share buybacks.
The bank stated that, depending on the direction of interest rates around the world, it still aimed to return on average tangible equity in the “mid-teens” by 2024, with banking net interest income of at least $41 billion.
Also read: Nurturing Responsible Online Behavior in Students by Building a Culture of Digital Citizenship
Do Follow: CIO News LinkedIn Account | CIO News Facebook | CIO News Youtube | CIO News Twitter
About us:
CIO News is the premier platform dedicated to delivering the latest news, updates, and insights from the CIO industry. As a trusted source in the technology and IT sector, we provide a comprehensive resource for executives and professionals seeking to stay informed and ahead of the curve. With a focus on cutting-edge developments and trends, CIO News serves as your go-to destination for staying abreast of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and IT. Founded in June 2020, CIO News has rapidly evolved with ambitious growth plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, USA, and the UK.
CIO News is a proprietary of Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.
