Stuart Gulliver, who became chief executive in January, will retain an office in London and is expected to spend much of his time at HSBC's London headquarters. However the bank said a report he had dropped plans to be based in Asia was "entirely incorrect".
"The group chief executive's principal office remains in Hong Kong, there's no change in that," said Richard Beck, spokesman for the bank.
Mr Gulliver was named chief executive in September after a shock boardroom upheaval prompted by a change in chairman, and said at that time he would be based in Hong Kong.
Previous Chief Executive Michael Geoghegan announced he was moving to Hong Kong with much fanfare a year ago. On his first official day as chief executive entering the stylish Norman Foster-designed HSBC building in the territory's Central district he was greeted by dozens of applauding employees.
The moment was rich in symbolism, showing the 146-year-old bank was returning to its roots, where it was originally known as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd.
HSBC aims to be the first firm listed on Shanghai's international board, and the chief executive's move to Hong Kong and Gulliver's close ties to China are expected to help that happen this year.
Mr Gulliver, who ran the investment bank arm from London before his promotion to chief executive, joined HSBC in 1980 and has permanent Hong Kong residency after spending most of his career there.
The bank said Mr Gulliver will spend as much time in Hong Kong as anywhere else in the world and will move back into the HSBC house he previously occupied in Hong Kong, rather than the house occupied by Mr Geoghegan.
He is expected to spend much of his time in London, and as a result continue to pay UK income tax.
Tuesday's Financial Times said Mr Gulliver had dropped plans to relocate to Hong Kong.
Analysts said the location of the chief executive's office was symbolic, but had little bearing on a strategy that is increasingly focused on fast-growing Asian markets.
Ian Gordon, analyst at Exane BNP Paribas, said HSBC was showing a "new found appetite to accelerate loan growth" in Hong Kong and Asia and Mr Geoghegan's move had been accompanied by a "bizarre wave of enthusiasm". For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today
No comments:
Post a Comment