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HSBC’s senior independent director is to step down from its board after overseeing the prolonged search to replace Sir Mark Tucker as chair of Europe’s largest lender.
Ann Godbehere, who joined the board in September 2023, will step down as a director at next year’s annual meeting for “personal and lifestyle reasons”, the bank’s new chair, Brendan Nelson, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It has been my privilege to serve on the HSBC Board and a pleasure to work with so many talented colleagues. I wish the board and management every success as it executes on its strategy,” Godbehere said.
Godbehere was chief financial officer at Swiss Re between 2003 and 2007 and interim finance chief at British bank Northern Rock after its nationalisation following the 2008 financial crisis.
Nelson, who served as interim chair until his appointment at the start of December, beat out external candidates, including Goldman Sachs Asia boss Kevin Sneader and former UK chancellor George Osborne, who announced last week he was taking up a new role at OpenAI.