Board of Directors

S K Green, Group Chairman
Age 61. An executive Director since 1998; Group Chief Executive from 2003 to 2006. Joined HSBC in 1982. Chairman of the Nomination Committee since 26 February 2010. A director of HSBC Bank plc and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. Chairman and a director of HSBC Private Banking Holdings (Suisse) SA until 25 February 2010. Ceased to be a director of HSBC France on 16 February 2010 and of HSBC North America Holdings Inc on 13 May 2010. Chairman of The British Bankers' Association and, since 30 April 2009, a non-executive Director of BASF SE.

Mr Green is a career banker having joined The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in 1982 with responsibility for corporate planning activities. He was Group Treasurer, with responsibility for HSBC's treasury and capital markets businesses globally from 1992 to 1998, and executive Director, Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets, from 1998 to 2003, when he was appointed Group Chief Executive. He has worked in Hong Kong, New York, the Middle East and London and has extensive international experience and knowledge of the HSBC Group.

M F Geoghegan, CBE, Group Chief Executive
Age 56. An executive Director since 2004. Joined HSBC in 1973. Chairman of the Group Management Board. Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited since 1 February 2010 and chairman of HSBC Bank Canada. Deputy chairman of HSBC Bank plc. A director of HSBC Latin America Holdings (UK) Limited having ceased to be chairman on 4 December 2009. A director of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. Ceased to be chairman and a director of HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and HSBC USA Inc. on 7 May 2009. Chief Executive of HSBC Bank plc from 2004 to 2006. Responsible for all of HSBC's business throughout South America from 2000 to 2003. President of HSBC Bank Brasil S.A. - Banco Múltiplo from 1997 to 2003.

Mr Geoghegan is a career banker with over 35 years' international experience with HSBC. He has worked in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He established the Group's operations in Brazil in 1997 following the creation of Banco HSBC Bamerindus S.A and in 2003 he was honoured with a CBE in recognition of his contribution to British business interests in Brazil.

† S A Catz
Age 48. President of Oracle Corporation. A nonexecutive Director since May 2008. Managing Director of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1997 to 1999. Joined Oracle in 1999 and appointed to the Board of Directors in 2001.

Ms Catz brings to the Board a background in international business leadership, having helped transform Oracle into the second biggest producer of management software and the world's leading supplier of software for information management.

V H C Cheng, GBS, OBE
Age 61. Chairman of HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited and, since 21 January 2010, of HSBC Bank (Taiwan) Limited. An executive Director since February 2008 and a member of the Corporate Sustainability Committee since 28 May 2010. Joined HSBC in 1978. Appointed a Group General Manager in 1995 and a Group Managing Director in 2005. A director of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited. An independent nonexecutive director of Great Eagle Holdings Limited and, since 10 July 2009, of MTR Corporation Limited. Vice chairman of the China Banking Association. A member of the National Committee of the 11th Chinese People's political Consultative Conference ('CPPCC') and a senior adviser to the 11th Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC. Chairman and a director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited until 1 February 2010 and of HSBC Global Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited until 4 February 2010. A director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited and a member of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority until 1 February 2010. A non-executive director of Swire Pacific Limited from 2005 to 2008. Awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government in 2005.

Mr Cheng is a career banker with extensive international business experience particularly in Asia. Mr Cheng is Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers and was chairman of the Process Review Panel for the Securities and Futures Commission and of the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service of the Hong Kong Government. Chairman of the Council of the Chinese University of Hong Kong since 24 October 2009. Seconded to the Hong Kong Government's Central Policy Unit from 1989 to 1991 serving as an adviser to the Governor of Hong Kong.

† M K T Cheung, GBS, OBE
Age 62. Non-executive chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong. A non-executive Director since 1 February 2009 and a member of the Group Audit Committee since 1 March 2010. A nonexecutive director of Hang Seng Bank Limited, HKR International Limited and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. A non-official member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Non-executive chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. A director of The Association of Former Council Members of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited. Ceased to be a non-executive director of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited on 9 December 2009. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KPMG Hong Kong from 1996 to 2003. A Council Member of the Open University of Hong Kong until 19 June 2009. Awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government in 2008.

Dr Cheung brings to the Board a background in international business and financial accounting, particularly in Greater China and the wider Asian economy. He retired from KPMG Hong Kong in 2003 after more than 30 years' distinguished service with the firm. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

†J D Coombe
Age 65. Non-executive chairman of Hogg Robinson Group plc. A non-executive Director since 2005. A member of the Group Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and, since 26 February 2010, the Group Risk Committee. A non-executive director of Home Retail Group plc. A trustee of the Royal Academy Trust. Former appointments include: executive director and Chief Financial Officer of GlaxoSmithKline plc; a non-executive director of GUS plc; a member of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG; chairman of The Hundred Group of Finance Directors and a member of the Accounting Standards Board.

Mr Coombe brings to the Board a background in international business, financial accounting and the pharmaceutical industry. As Chief Financial Officer of GlaxoSmithKline he had responsibility for the Group's financial operations globally. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

†R A Fairhead
Age 48. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Financial Times Group Limited. A nonexecutive Director since 2004. Chairman of the Group Audit Committee and, since 26 February 2010, the Group Risk Committee. A member of the Nomination Committee. A director of Pearson plc and chairman of Interactive Data Corporation. A non-executive director of The Economist Newspaper Limited. Former appointments include: Executive Vice President, Strategy and Group Control of Imperial Chemical Industries plc; and Finance Director of Pearson plc.

Mrs Fairhead brings to the Board a background in international industry, publishing, finance and general management. As the former Finance Director of Pearson plc she oversaw the day to day running of the finance function and was directly responsible for global financial reporting and control, tax and treasury. She has a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

D J Flint, CBE, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Risk and Regulation
Age 54. Joined HSBC as an executive Director in 1995. A non-executive director of BP p.l.c. and a member of the Consultative Committee of the Large Business Advisory Board of HM Revenue & Customs and the Business Government Forum on Tax and Globalisation. Chairman of HSBC Finance Corporation and a director of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. until 7 May 2009. Co-chairman of the Counterparty Risk Management Policy Group III in 2008. Chaired the Financial Reporting Council's review of the Turnbull Guidance on Internal Control in 2004. Served on the Accounting Standards Board and the Standards Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board from 2001 to 2004. A former partner in KPMG.

Mr Flint has extensive financial experience particularly in banking, multinational financial reporting, treasury and securities trading operations. In 2006 he was honoured with a CBE in recognition of his services to the finance industry. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Association of Corporate Treasurers and he is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

A A Flockhart, CBE
Age 58. Chairman, Personal and Commercial Banking and Insurance. An executive Director since May 2008. Joined HSBC in 1974. Appointed a Group General Manager in 2002 and a Group Managing Director in 2006. Chairman of HSBC Latin America Holdings (UK) Limited since 4 December 2009. Vice chairman and a director of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited. A director of Hang Seng Bank Limited and HSBC Bank Australia Limited. A member of the Visa Asia Pacific Senior Advisory Council, Visa Inc. Chairman of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad from 2007 to 5 February 2010. Chief Executive Officer of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from 2007 to 1 February 2010. Ceased to be a director of HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited on 28 February 2010. President and Group Managing Director Latin America and the Caribbean from 2006 to 2007. Chief Executive Officer, Mexico from 2002 to 2006. Senior Executive Vice-President, Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. from 1999 to 2002. Managing Director of The Saudi British Bank from 1997 to 1999.

Mr Flockhart is a career banker, being an emerging markets specialist with over 30 years' experience with HSBC across Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. In 2007 he was honoured with a CBE in recognition of his services to British business and charitable services and institutions in Mexico.

S T Gulliver
Age 51. Chairman, Europe, Middle East and Global Businesses. An executive Director since May 2008. Joined HSBC in 1980. Appointed a Group General Manager in 2000 and a Group Managing Director in 2004. Chairman of HSBC Bank plc since 21 April 2010, of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited since 15 February 2010 and of HSBC France since 1 January 2009. A director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. Deputy chairman and member of the Supervisory Board of HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG. Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets. A director of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. until 7 May 2009 and of HSBC Latin America Holdings (UK) Limited until 4 December 2009. Co-Head of Global Banking and Markets from 2003 to 2006. Head of Global Markets from 2002 to 2003. Head of Treasury and Capital Markets in Asia-Pacific from 1996 to 2002.

Mr Gulliver is a career banker with over 28 years' international experience with HSBC. He has held a number of key roles in the Group's operations worldwide, including in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and the United Arab Emirates. Global Banking and Markets is the wholesale banking division of the Group with operations in more than 60 countries and territories.

†J W J Hughes-Hallett, SBS
Age 60. Chairman of John Swire & Sons Limited. A non-executive Director since 2005. A member of the Nomination Committee and, since 26 February 2010, of the Group Risk Committee. A member of the Group Audit Committee until 1 March 2010. A non-executive director and former chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited and Swire Pacific Limited. A non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from 1999 to 2004. A trustee of the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. A member of The Hong Kong Association and of the Governing Board of the Courtauld Institute of Art. Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Government in 2004.

Mr Hughes-Hallett brings to the Board a background in financial accounting and the management of a broad range of businesses in a number of international industries, including aviation, property, shipping, manufacturing and trading, in the Far East, UK, US and Australia. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

†W S H Laidlaw
Age 54. Chief Executive Officer of Centrica plc. A non-executive Director since January 2008. A member of the Remuneration Committee. Former appointments include: Executive Vice President of Chevron Corporation; non-executive director of Hanson PLC; Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Oil plc; and President and Chief Operating Officer of Amerada Hess Corporation.

Mr Laidlaw brings to the Board significant international experience, particularly in the energy sector, having had responsibility for businesses in four continents. He has a Masters in Business Administration from INSEAD.

†J R Lomax
Age 64. Former Deputy Governor, Monetary Stability, at the Bank of England and member of the Monetary Policy Committee. A non-executive Director since December 2008. A member of the Group Audit Committee since 1 March 2009 and of the Group Risk Committee since 26 February 2010. A non-executive director of The Scottish American Investment Company PLC and, since 31 July 2009, of Reinsurance Group of America Inc. A director of the Council of Imperial College, London since 1 June 2009 and a member of the Board of the Royal National Theatre. Former appointments include: Deputy Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2008; Permanent Secretary at the UK Government Departments for Transport and Work and Pensions and at the Welsh Office from 1996 to 2003; and Vice President and Chief of Staff to the President of the World Bank from 1995 to 1996.

Ms Lomax brings to the Board business experience in both the public and private sectors and a deep knowledge of the operation of the UK government and the financial system.

†G Morgan
Age 64. Non-executive chairman of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. A non-executive Director since 2006. A member of the Remuneration Committee. A member of the Board of Trustees of The Fraser Institute and the Manning Centre for Building Democracy. A nonexecutive director of HSBC Bank Canada from 1996 to 2006. Former appointments include: Founding President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice chairman of EnCana Corporation; a director of Alcan Inc. and Lafarge North America, Inc.

Mr Morgan brings to the Board a background in technical, operational, financial and management positions and has led large international companies in the energy and engineering sectors. He has been recognised as Canada's most respected Chief Executive Officer in a national poll of Chief Executives. He is currently a business columnist for Canada's largest national newspaper.

†N R N Murthy, CBE
Age 63. Chairman and Chief Mentor and former Chief Executive Officer of Infosys Technologies Limited. A non-executive Director since May 2008. A member of the Corporate Sustainability Committee and, from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in 2010, chairman of the Committee. A director of the United Nations Foundation. A non-executive director of New Delhi Television Limited until 22 July 2009. A former non-executive director of DBS Group Holdings Limited. DBS Bank Limited and Unilever plc.

Mr Murthy brings to the Board experience in information technology, corporate governance and education, particularly in India. He founded Infosys Technologies Limited in India in 1981 and was its Chief Executive Officer for 21 years. Under his leadership, Infosys established a global footprint and was listed on NASDAQ in 1999. During his career he has worked in France and India.

†Sir Simon Robertson Senior independent non-executive Director
Age 69. Non-executive chairman of Rolls-Royce Group plc and the founder member of Simon Robertson Associates LLP. A non-executive Director since 2006 and senior independent nonexecutive Director since 2007. A member of the Nomination Committee. A non-executive director of Berry Bros. & Rudd Limited, The Economist Newspaper Limited and Royal Opera House Covent Garden Limited. A trustee of the Eden Project Trust and of the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund. Former appointments include: Managing Director of Goldman Sachs International; and chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.

Sir Simon brings to the Board a background in international corporate advisory with a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, merchant banking, investment banking and financial markets. During his career he has worked in France, Germany, the UK and the USA.

†J L Thornton
Age 56. A non-executive Director since December 2008. A member of the Remuneration Committee since 24 April 2009 and, from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in 2010, chairman of the Committee. Non-executive chairman and a director of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. since December 2008. Professor and director of the Global Leadership Programme at the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. Chairman of the Brookings Institution Board of Trustees. A nonexecutive director of Ford Motor Company, News Corporation, Inc. and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited. A director of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and a Trustee of Asia Society, China Institute, The China Foreign Affairs University, the Palm Beach Civic Association and the United World College of East Africa Trust. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the China Securities Regulatory Commission International Advisory Committee and China Reform Forum International Advisory Committee. Former appointments include: a non-executive director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited from 2005 until 2008; and President of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from 1999 until 2003.

Mr Thornton brings to the Board experience that bridges developed and developing economies and the public and private sectors. He has a deep knowledge of financial services and education systems, particularly in Asia. During his 23 year career with Goldman Sachs, he played a key role in the firm's global development and was chairman of Goldman Sachs Asia.

†Sir Brian Williamson, CBE
Age 65. Chairman of Electra Private Equity plc. A non-executive Director since 2002. A member of the Nomination Committee, having served as chairman of the Committee until 26 February 2010. A director of NYSE Euronext and Climate Exchange plc. Former appointments include: chairman of London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange and Gerrard Group plc; and a nonexecutive director of Resolution plc, the Financial Services Authority and the Court of The Bank of Ireland.

Sir Brian brings to the Board extensive experience in money and bond markets, private equity, futures, options and commodities trading internationally. He established the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange in the 1980s and led the Exchange's development of its electronic trading platform in the mid-1990s. He is a member of the Guild of International Bankers.

Secretary
R G Barber
Age 59. Group Company Secretary. Appointed a Group General Manager in 2006. Joined HSBC in 1980. Company Secretary of HSBC Holdings plc since 1990. Chairman of the Disclosure Committee. A member of the Listing Authority Advisory Committee of the Financial Services Authority and of the Primary Markets Group of the London Stock Exchange. Corporation Secretary of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from 1986 to 1992 and Company Secretary of HSBC Bank plc from 1994 to 1996.

Adviser to the Board
D J Shaw
Age 63. An Adviser to the Board since 1998. Solicitor. A former partner in Norton Rose. A director of The Bank of Bermuda Limited and HSBC Private Banking Holdings (Suisse) SA. An independent non-executive director of Kowloon Development Company Limited and Shui On Land Limited.