Finance & economics | The incredible shrinking bank

HSBC undergoes yet another overhaul. It still may not be enough

Europe’s largest bank has a new strategy—but no permanent boss

LAST AUTUMN the board of HSBC asked Egon Zehnder, an executive-search firm, to find it a new chief executive. The bank had fired John Flint in August, after 18 months in the job, for being too shy about pursuing profits. HSBC then dodged the decision, appointing Noel Quinn, a no-nonsense insider, only on an interim basis. Mr Quinn soon made it clear he wanted the job permanently. He seemed a shoo-in.

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “The incredible shrinking bank”

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