New leader replaces Sandra Stuart, the first female CEO of a major bank in Canada
Linda Seymour has been appointed as the new president and CEO of HSBC Canada.
She will take up the position on September 1, 2020, and the role of Group General Manager of HSBC Holdings plc immediately.
A 30-year veteran of HSBC, Linda has an extensive background in commercial and retail banking. She has been Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial banking for Canada since 2012, is a member of the HSBC Group's global Commercial Banking Executive Committee and a longstanding member of the Canadian bank's Executive Committee.
Seymour succeeds the retiring Sandra Stuart, who served as CEO for five years and was with HSBC for 40. Throughout her career, Sandra has been a recognized champion for diversity and inclusion and was named Catalyst Canada Honours Champion in 2019.
HSBC Canada's Commercial Banking unit accounts for the majority of the bank's profits in Canada. Under Seymour’s leadership, it ranks among the top performing commercial regions in the HSBC Group with a focus on helping Canadian businesses expand across the world's trade corridors. She joined HSBC in 1988 and has held progressively senior roles in Commercial Banking, Retail and Wealth, Operations and Risk.
Stephen Moss, regional chief executive officer for Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Latin America and Canada, said: "We thank Sandra for her strong contribution over the past 40 years. As CEO, she led the Canadian business through a period of significant change and growth with assets now sitting at $125bn. We are confident that Linda will build on HSBC's position as the leading international bank in Canada and a significant contributor to the Group. With the extreme demands of this unusual environment, we are especially pleased that we have a deeply experienced leader with her own track record of growth who also brings continuity for our customers and our people."
Seymour added: "Canada is a key market for HSBC and, as a Canadian, I am extremely proud of our role in the HSBC Group. Our vast international network means we offer something unique and powerful to Canadian individuals and companies with international aspirations. As we have for almost 40 years, we will be here to help them stay strong in the coming months and work together for the country's economic recovery. Longer term, I look forward to continuing to work with our customers and our people as we invest and grow in Canada for years to come."
