HSBC yesterday (23 August) announced several changes within its Hong Kong business.
From 01 September, Diana Cesar will leave her current role of group general manager and chief executive at HSBC to succeed Louisa Cheang as executive director and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank.
Upon her return from medical leave, Cheang will take a new executive role within HSBC.
David Liao, group managing director and co-chief executive of HSBC Asia Pacific said in a media release that Cheang had provided outstanding leadership for the bank over the past four years, creating a springboard for future growth.
He noted that the bank is “back in full growth mode, increasing our investment in both people and technology to capture the growing wealth segment and wholesale banking services in Hong Kong and across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).”
Cesar has been with HSBC for 22 years holding numerous posts across Marketing, Credit Cards, Consumer Loans and Mortgages. In her most recent post, which she commenced in autumn 2017, she was responsible for steering the business towards greater profitability by managing relationships and coordinating with the government and regulatory bodies.
Before her time with the bank, Cesar had worked in Hong Kong and Canada for companies including SmarTone, Citibank and American Express.
HSBC has started a process for Cesar’s replacement. In the meantime, Luanne Lim (pictured) will assume the role of interim chief executive.
Lim joined HSBC in Retail Banking in 1999 and has led a number of strategic growth initiatives in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
In her role as chief operating officer at HSBC, since 2017 Lim has delivered key efficiency programmes for the bank, most recently taking responsibility for HSBC’s Covid-19 measures in Hong Kong.
Prior to relocating to Hong Kong, Lim worked for PT Bank Ekonomi, an Indonesian Bank majority-owned by HSBC. She helped facilitate the successful integration of Bank Ekonomi and HSBC Indonesia.
