HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC ousted Chief Executive Officer John Flint after just 18 months in that role, in a surprise move that the lender's chairman said was necessary to accelerate progress of its strategic priorities.
Flint's exit, which a person familiar with the matter said was a result of differences over execution of his strategy, was disclosed by HSBC early on Monday along with its half-yearly results which had been scheduled for release later in the day.
The departure comes as Europe's biggest bank is grappling with headwinds including an escalation of a trade war between
China and the
United States, an easing monetary policy cycle, unrest in the key Hong Kong market and uncertainty about Brexit.