More significantly, this appointment will mean that Webb will take on a global role and yet be based in Hong Kong - a move which perhaps underscores HSBCÆs commitment to the region. In the Asia-Pacific region, HSBC is seeing the bulk of its trade services profits coming from the continent and evidently sees greater potential for earnings with the appointment of an experienced banker like Webb.
In the new role, Webb will report directly to Andrew Long, HSBCÆs global head of global transaction banking, who is based in London. According to HSBC, WebbÆs promotion also underscores the value of its trade finance and supply chain business in Asia.
Previously, HSBCÆs global supply chain business was run by Alan Beattie in London, who will now take on a position in the firmÆs South American operations.
In addition to his new role as global head of trade services and supply chain, Webb will also take on the role of regional head of Asia-Pacific trade services, in which capacity he will report to Margaret Leung, HSBCÆs group general manager global co-head of commercial banking.
Under WebbÆs watch as regional head of cash management and payments, which he has held since 2000, HSBC has become one of the dominant forces in this space and grown to into one of the largest and most profitable players in this business over a massive geographical area.
He joined the bank in 1981 and has held an array of positions in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Significantly, Webb was instrumental in the development and successful implementation of HSBC's worldwide online banking and payment systems. Between 1997 and 1999, he was also responsible for specific market development throughout the region.
WebbÆs old role will be taken over by John Laurens, who will also report to Andrew Long. John Laurens, who first joined HSBC in 2001, has held the role of head of product management in the cash management and payments division since that time. During this time, he led the development and managed HSBCÆs integrated cash management solutions in Asia-Pacific.
With 21 years of related experience, Laurens is also an existing member of HSBCÆs payments and cash management leadership group. Laurens will continue to be based in Hong Kong in this new role.
On the trade services side, HSBCÆs current head and Hong Kong veteran Alastair Currie will transfer to a senior role in the firmÆs Taiwan office, the specific details of which will be announced shortly.
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