FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of June, 2007
HSBC Holdings plc
42nd Floor, 8 Canada
Square, London E14 5HQ, England
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ......
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934).
Yes....... No X
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............)
EMERGING MARKETS SPECIALIST
BECOMES CEO FOR HSBC IN ASIA
Sandy Flockhart is to become Chief Executive Officer of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Asia, subject to regulatory and other
approvals.
Sandy who, as a Group Managing Director, is a member of the Group Management
Board, arrives in Hong Kong in July 2007. He is currently President and Group
Managing Director for HSBC in Latin America and the Caribbean. From a base of 10
offices just 10 years ago, HSBC today operates some 4,000 offices in 14
countries in Latin America, contributing US$1.7 billion to the Group's global
pre-tax profits last year. As Chief Executive from 2002 to 2006, he built a
billion-dollar business for HSBC in Mexico after the acquisition of Grupo
Financiero Bital in 2002.
He has also run HSBC's business in Thailand and worked for 12 years in Hong
Kong, where two of his four children were born. He was also previously Managing
Director of HSBC's operations in Saudi Arabia, and ran Corporate, Commercial and
Retail Banking for HSBC in the US.
Commenting on the appointment, Michael Geoghegan, HSBC Group Chief Executive,
said: "We are delighted to make Sandy Chief Executive for our Asian operations.
Emerging markets will continue to drive world economic growth and we see Asia as
a key region with tremendous potential. It is home to some of the world's most
dynamic economies and HSBC's unique emerging markets franchise, in Asia and
around the world, presents significant growth opportunities for us.
"Sandy has a great track record in building businesses in emerging markets and
considerable experience of our operations in Asia. It makes him the ideal person
to join up our operations in the region for the benefit of our customers, our
people and our shareholders.
"He joins a talented local management team led by Vincent Cheng, Chairman of The
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and also Group Managing
Director. Going forward, it also means that Asia will now be represented at
Group level by two Managing Directors on our Group Management Board."
Vincent Cheng added: "I have known Sandy for many years and am excited that we
will be working together. It is a great testament to the depth of talent at HSBC
that we are able to consistently provide a seamless succession of management
around the world. And it's very fitting that the former head of our PFS business
in Asia, Paul Thurston, recently transferred to HSBC Mexico as CEO of the
business Sandy himself ran until last year."
Speaking about his appointment, Sandy Flockhart said: "It's a privilege to be
asked to run the number one international bank in the region, in HSBC's
spiritual home, Asia. We have a thriving business in Hong Kong and a wonderful
growth story across Asia Pacific. I am looking forward to this new challenge
enormously and I leave Latin America in the hands of enormously experienced and
talented executives who I know will continue to grow the great franchise we have
built there."
Notes to editors:
1. Photograph and biography
Photographs and a brief biography for Sandy Flockhart are available from
Patrick McGuinness/Karen Ng on +44 (0)20 7991 0111/0655.
2. HSBC Holdings plc
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is a principal member of
the HSBC Group which, with around 10,000 offices in 82 countries and territories
and assets of US$1,861 billion at 31 December 2006, is one of the world's
largest banking and financial services organisations.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HSBC Holdings plc
By:
Name: P A Stafford
Title: Assistant Group Secretary
Date: 20 June, 2007