HSBC on 14 February announced that Luanne Lim has been appointed Chief Executive of the Hong Kong business with immediate effect. She was previously Chief Operating Officer, Hong Kong, and was named interim CEO last September when then-CEO Diana Cesar moved to Hang Seng Bank.

Lim has been with HSBC for over 20 years, having begun her career in the Singapore business in 1999. She subsequently held leadership roles across multiple Asian markets including Hong Kong, mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Before joining HSBC Hong Kong, she was COO and Operations Director of Bank Ekonomi Indonesia, a 99%-owned venture of HSBC Group.

David Liao, Co-Chief Executive of HSBC Asia Pacific, called Lim the "standout candidate" for the role of Chief Executive. He said: "Over the last six months, she has demonstrated a combination of natural leadership with a deep understanding of both the industry and how HSBC’s global aspirations fit within it. Her proven energy and skill in delivering results that support our commercial and operational goals is what we need as we continue to transform to meet the opportunities for growth here in Hong Kong and beyond.”