HSBA Hsbc Holdings Plc

By James Booth

Of Financial News

HSBC Holdings PLC boss Noel Quinn has scrapped the executive floor of its Canary Wharf headquarters as it seeks to slash real estate needs in its post-pandemic working policy.

Mr. Quinn said the 42nd-floor private offices formerly used by the bank's top executives have now been turned into client meeting rooms.

The bank's senior executives now hot-desk on an open-plan floor two storeys below.

"Our offices were empty half the time because we were traveling around the world. That was a waste of real estate," Mr. Quinn told the Financial Times. "If I'm asking our colleagues to change the way that they're working, then it's only right that we change the way we're working."

"We don't have a designated desk. You turn up and grab one in the morning," he added. "I won't be in the office five days a week. I think it's unnecessary...It's the new reality of life."

The move is part of a wider strategic shift to cut 40% from its global head office costs, Mr. Quinn said.

To achieve that goal HSBC doesn't plan to renew many of its city-centre leases over the next three to five years. It is also introducing a policy of about two employees per desk, excluding branches.

"We will have a very different working style going forward that will be much more hybrid, where colleagues can part work in the office, part at home," Mr. Quinn said.

HSBC was contacted for comment.

The bank is also undertaking a wider restructuring exercise as part of a plan to pivot the bank towards its markets in Asia.

The lender aims to strip out 35,000 jobs as part of the plans to cut jobs and move its focus to core markets.

Greg Guyett, co-CEO of global banking and markets at HSBC, Nuno Matos, chief executive of wealth and personal banking and Barry O'Byrne, chief executive of global commercial banking, are all set to move to Hong Kong as part of the shake-up.

"This decision reflects the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the strategies of CMB, GBM and WPB. Being based in Hong Kong will enable Barry, Greg and Nuno to be closer to the execution of their plans and to customer needs in the region," wrote Mr. Quinn this month in a memo seen by Financial News.

Website: www.fnlondon.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 19, 2021 04:26 ET (08:26 GMT)

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