Our Board: Promoting Your Interests

Group Chairman and chairman of the Nomination Committee with effect from 3 December 2010. Joined HSBC as Group Finance Director in 1995 and served as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Risk and Regulation from 1 February 2010 until 3 December 2010. A non-executive director of BP p.l.c. since January 2005 and chairman of its Audit Committee since April 2010 but will retire at the BP AGM in April 2011. Director of The Hong Kong Association with effect from 6 February 2011. 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. Served on the Large Business Forum on Tax and Competitiveness and the Consultative Committee of the Large Business Advisory Board of HM Revenue and Customs. A former partner in KPMG.

Mr Flint has extensive governance experience gained through membership of the Boards of HSBC and BP as well as considerable knowledge of finance and risk management 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.

Group Chief Executive and chairman of the Group Management Board since 1 January 2011. An executive Director since 2008. Joined HSBC in 1980. Appointed a Group General Manager in 2000 and a Group Managing Director in 2004. Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited with effect from 1 January 2011. Chairman of HSBC France since January 2009 and of HSBC Private Banking Holdings (Suisse) SA since 25 February 2010. Deputy chairman of HSBC Trinkaus& Burkhardt AG since 2007 and a member of its Supervisory Board since 2006. Chairman, Europe, Middle East and Global Businesses until 31 December 2010. Chairman of HSBC Bank plc from 21 April 2010 to 31 December 2010 and of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited from 15 February 2010 to 31 December 2010. Head of Global Banking and Markets from 2006 to 2010 and co-head 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 30 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. He played a leading role in developing and expanding Global Banking and Markets, the wholesale banking division of the Group with operations in over 65 countries and territories.

Chairman of HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited and, since 21 January 2010, of HSBC Bank (Taiwan) Limited. An executive Director since 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. An independent non-executive director of Great Eagle Holdings Limited and 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. Ceased to be chairman and a director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on 1 February 2010 and of HSBC Global Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited on 4 February 2010. Ceased to be a director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited and a member of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on 1 February 2010 and of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited on 11 November 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 October 2009. He was seconded to the Hong Kong Government’s Central Policy Unit from 1989 to 1991 serving as an adviser to the Governor of Hong Kong.

Chairman, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Commercial Banking and Chairman of HSBC Bank plc with effect from 1 January 2011. An executive Director since 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 December 2009. A director of HSBC Bank Australia Limited. A member of the Visa Asia Pacific Senior Advisory Council, Visa Inc. Chairman, Personal and Commercial Banking and Insurance until 31 December 2010. 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 and of Hang Seng Bank Limited on 31 December 2010. Ceased to be vice chairman and a director of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited on 16 June 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 35 years’ experience with HSBC across Latin America, the Middle East, US 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.

An executive Director since 3 December 2010. Joined HSBC in 2007. A Director of Hang Seng Bank Limited until 31 December 2010. Chief Financial Officer, Asia Pacific from September 2009 to 3 December 2010 and Chief Financial Officer, North America from 2007 to September 2009. Former appointments include: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GE Consumer Finance and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GE Healthcare – Global Diagnostic Imaging.

Mr Mackay has extensive financial and international experience. He has worked in London, Paris, US and Asia. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

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 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, insurance, 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.

Chief Executive Officer of Centrica plc. A non-executive Director since 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 Master’s in Business Administration from INSEAD. He is a member of the UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and is the Senior Independent Director of the Department for Transport.

Former Deputy Governor, Monetary Stability, at the Bank of England and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee. A non-executive Director since 2008. A member of the Group Audit Committee since March 2009 and of the Group Risk Committee since 26 February 2010. A non-executive director of The Scottish American Investment Company PLC and Reinsurance Group of America Inc., and since 7 July 2010, of Arcus European Infrastructure Fund GP LLP. A non-executive director of BAA Limited since 24 November 2010. A director of the Council of Imperial College, London and a member of the Board of the Royal National Theatre. A member of the Business Advisory Group to the UK Secretary of State for Business since 18 May 2010. 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.

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 non-executive director of HSBC Bank Canada from 1996 to 2006. Former appointments include: Founding President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of EnCana Corporation; director of Alcan Inc.; and director of 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. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada on 30 December 2010 for his contributions as a business and community leader and as a philanthropist.

Chairman and Chief Mentor and former Chief Executive Officer of Infosys Technologies Limited. A non-executive Director since 2008. Chairman of the Corporate Sustainability Committee since 28 May 2010. A director of the United Nations Foundation. Ceased to be a director of Unilever plc on 12 May 2010. Former appointments include: a non-executive director of DBS Group Holdings Limited, DBS Bank Limited and New Delhi Television Limited.

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.

President of Oracle Corporation. A non-executive Director since 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.

Non-executive Deputy Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. A non-executive Director with effect from 1 March 2011. A non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong SAR. Director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Tata Consultancy Services Limited and China Telecom Corporation Limited. Chairman of the ICAC Advisory Committee on Corruption and of the University Grants Committee in Hong Kong. Vice-chairman of the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and a Hong Kong delegate to the 11th National People’s Congress of China. A member of the Advisory Board of the Yale School of Management, and Millstein Center of Corporate Governance and Performance at Yale University and a Senior International Advisor for Foundation Asset Management Sweden AG. Former appointments include: non-executive director of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd from 2006 to 19 August 2010, Baoshan Iron and Steel Co. Limited and Johnson Electric Holdings Limited. A member of the State Bar of California. She was awarded a Silver Bauhinia Star in 2001 and a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2009 by the Hong Kong Government for her public service.

Mrs Cha has worked in the US and Asia and has extensive regulatory and policy-making experience in the finance and securities sector in Hong Kong and mainland China. Mrs Cha was Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (‘CSRC’) from January 2001 to September 2004. She was appointed to the post by the State Council and became the first person outside mainland China to join the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China at the vice-ministerial rank. Prior to her post at the CSRC, Mrs Cha worked in the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2000, becoming its Deputy Chairman in 1998.

Non-executive chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong. A non-executive Director since February 2009 and a member of the Group Audit Committee since 1 March 2010. A non-executive 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 in 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 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.

Non-executive chairman of Hogg Robinson Group plc. A non-executive Director since 2005 and chairman of the Group Audit Committee since 30 July 2010. A member of the Remuneration Committee and, since 26 February 2010, of 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; 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.

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Financial Times Group Limited. A non-executive Director since 2004. Chairman of the Group Risk Committee since 26 February 2010. A member of the Group Audit Committee, having ceased to be chairman on 30 July 2010. A member of the Nomination Committee. A director of Pearson plc and a non-executive director of The Economist Newspaper Limited. A director of the UK Cabinet Office since 16 December 2010. Ceased to be chairman and a director of Interactive Data Corporation on 30 July 2010. 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 Master’s in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

Non-executive chairman of Rolls-Royce Group plc and the founder member of Simon Robertson Associates LLP. A non-executive Director since 2006. Senior independent non-executive Director since 2007 and Deputy Chairman since 1 December 2010. 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 US. In June 2010 he was honoured with a knighthood in recognition of his services to business.

A non-executive Director since 2008. Chairman of the Remuneration Committee since 28 May 2010. Non-executive chairman and a director of HSBC North America Holdings Inc since 2008. Professor and director of the Global Leadership Program at the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. Chairman of the Brookings Institution Board of Trustees. A non-executive director of Ford Motor Company, News Corporation, Inc. and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited. A director of 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 to 2008; Intel Corporation, Inc. from 2003 to 18 May 2010; and President of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from 1999 to 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.

A non-executive Director since 2002. A member of the Nomination Committee, having ceased to be its chairman on 26 February 2010. A director of NYSE Euronext. Chairman of Electra Private Equity plc until 24 May 2010. Former appointments include: chairman of London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange and Gerrard Group plc; a director of Climate Exchange plc; and a non-executive 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, insurance, 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 was the first chairman of Resolution plc, established to consolidate life assurance business in the UK. He is a member of the Guild for International Bankers.

Group Company Secretary since 1986. 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.

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