Dame Carolyn Fairbairn to be appointed chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK Bank plc
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Holdings plc (‘Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’ or ‘Group’) today provides an update on succession for a key subsidiary board role which will further strengthen the alignment and connectivity with the Group.
In accordance with the PRA Ring-Fencing Rules, and corporate governance best practice, Dame Clara Furse will retire as non-executive Chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK Bank plc in 1H26 after serving 9 years.
In line with Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Board’s succession planning activity, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, currently Chair of the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Group Remuneration Committee, will assume the role of non-executive Chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK Bank plc by the end of 1H26, subject to regulatory approval. Dame Carolyn’s proposed appointment follows a robust succession process which considered both internal and external candidates.
Dame Carolyn brings deep experience of the UK commercial and business environment and as well as the role of UK businesses in an international context. Her customer-oriented perspective, strategic acumen, regulatory expertise and strong stakeholder management experience, make her ideally suited for the role. She will remain an independent non-executive Director of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Holdings plc and Chair of the Group Remuneration Committee.
Brendan Nelson, Group Chairman, will step down as an independent non-executive Director of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK Bank plc, effective from Dame Carolyn’s appointment to the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK board.
Group Chairman, Brendan Nelson said:
“I would like to thank Dame Clara for her dedication, commitment and the significant contribution she has made to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ during her time as Chair of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK. I believe that Dame Carolyn’s deep understanding of the UK business and regulatory landscape will be invaluable in the next phase of delivery of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ UK Bank’s growth strategy and as we deliver for our investors, customers, communities and employees.”
Media enquiries to:
Neil Fleming
+44 (0)7384792051
neil1.fleming@hsbc.com
Notes to editors:
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Holdings plc
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Holdings plc, the parent company of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½, is headquartered in London. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ serves customers worldwide from offices in 56 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,233bn at 31 December 2025, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.