HSBC last week announced a number of portfolio changes, promotions and new hires in equity research, which the bank said “reflect [its] long-term commitment to continue building on its leading research coverage across high growth segments”.
As part of that plan, the bank has shuffled the portfolios of David May and Chris Georgs, with May moving to Hong Kong as head of equity research for Asia-Pacific, charged with developing and expanding the franchise in Asia. He was previously head of European equity research, based in London.
Meanwhile, Georgs, who has led the Asia-Pacific equity research team for the past five years, will now be responsible for equity research in Europe and Ceemea (Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa). Georgs has also been appointed global head of equity research, a newly created role that makes him responsible for the team globally. In his new job, Georgs will be “pivotal in helping to standardise and maximise the contribution of HSBC’s global equity research proposition”, said HSBC.
Georgs will relocate from Hong Kong to London and will report to Stuart Parkinson, chief executive officer of global research.
Herald van der Linde has become head of equity strategy for Asia ex-Japan and will work closely with Garry Evans, who heads equity strategy for HSBC globally. Van der Linde, who has overseen the build up of the consumer team in Asia during the past two years, retains his responsibilities as deputy head of equity research for Asia-Pacific.
Erwan Rambourg has been appointed head of consumer and retail research globally. He has relocated to Hong Kong from London. “With most companies listed in Europe but investment cases increasingly relying on Asia, having a team located in both the western world and Asia brings incremental value to investors,” said HSBC. Rambourg will coordinate a global consumer research product for HSBC’s customers.
Both van der Linde and Rambourg report to May in Hong Kong.
Further strengthening the equity research team are three new staff who have joined in Hong Kong. Janice Tan will be regional head of consumer and retail equity research for Asia-Pacific. She joins HSBC from China Life Franklin Templeton Asset Management, where she headed equity research and was portfolio manager for market, consumer, healthcare and small caps. Tan has more than 15 years of experience, including stints at CLSA and BNP Paribas. She reports to May and Rambourg.
Anderson Chow has joined HSBC as regional head of infrastructure research for Asia-Pacific and head of industrials research for Hong Kong and China. Chow was earlier head of infrastructure and transport research for Asia at Macquarie Capital Securities. He has more than a decade of experience as an equity analyst, on both the buy- and sell-side.
Colin Davis will head research marketing for Asia-Pacific. The role makes him the primary liaison between global research and global banking and markets (GBM). He is expected to ensure that the views and reports published by the equity research department are shared across a broad spectrum of HSBC’s staff. Davis was earlier head of Asia-Pacific equity research at Mirae Asset’s global investments group and has also worked at J.P. Morgan and ABN Amro.
Research at HSBC, comprising currency, economics, equities and fixed income, is a division of global banking and markets. It employs more than 650 people across 23 countries. “These new additions help us continue broadening our coverage and industry capabilities across the region in Asia,” said Georgs. “Additionally, the appointments of both Herald and Erwan in their respective roles mean our clients can get broader perspectives from some of our most experienced and capable analysts.”
The announcement comes just days after HSBC confirmed that 10% of the 30,000 jobs it is cutting will be in Hong Kong. The bank has emphasised that even though it is downsizing both globally and in Hong Kong, it will be adding staff in specific areas where it sees potential for growth.
