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Investment International Profile | 17
Martin
Spurling,
CEO of HSBC Bank International
and Head of Global Offshore
A lifetime expatriate talks to Investment
International editor Jonathan Ball
JB: When did you first & Shanghai Banking Corporation, which I’ve worked for HSBC, I have retained the
experience the expatriate offered the prospect of an immediate overseas same bank account here in Jersey. Knowing
lifestyle? posting, I was really intrigued and sent in that you can just pick up the phone to
MS: At a very early age! I was born in the UK, my application for a position as an someone who understands your personal situa-
but when I was three months old my parents International Manager. I’ve never looked tion and has built a relationship with you, is of
were posted to Malawi, where we spent 15 back and as the Bank expanded globally in paramount importance to me and I know it’s
very happy years, interspersed with one year the last 20 years, shareholders and regulators something that our customers really appreciate
in Lesotho. During my childhood we also say this international cadre is what helps too.
spent time in Washington DC and three years to glue the culture and business together.
in the Ivory Coast. I gained such a lot from JB: What’s the customer profile
experiencing other cultures first hand, and JB: What are the bank’s core of HSBC International?
although the regular change and movement areas of activity? MS: We cater for UK and Commonwealth-cen-
for a family isn’t without its challenges, it’s MS: We are highly specialised at HSBC Bank tric expats who are looking for a secure and
given me the opportunity to celebrate International – we are a savings and wealth trusted place for their money, and financial
differences and view life from other management business dedicated to supporting advice for core savings with the specialist needs
perspectives. people living and working abroad by working that come from being an expat. Our customers
alongside them to reach their financial goals. predominately speak English, are worldly in
JB: How did you begin your This focus allows us to really understand our their outlook, appreciate and expect good serv-
career as an expat? customers and gives our products and services ice and are increasingly technologically savvy.
MS: When my time at Durham University was great strength. I suppose it’s not surprising that
coming to an end I explored various possibili- as an expat myself, I should gravitate towards JB: In which parts of the world
ties. I read Geography and knew I wanted travel and find myself CEO of an international bank have you lived and worked
to form part of my working life, but many that caters to expat banking needs. during the course of your
organisations made graduates spend maybe One of the aspects I most admire about career with the bank?
four or five years working in head office before the bank is the consistently high service we MS: I’ve been extremely lucky to live and work
becoming eligible for a short-term overseas provide. For example, even though I’ve lived in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Singapore,
posting. So when I came across the Hong Kong in nine countries during the twenty years Pakistan, Taiwan and Jersey.
www.investmentinternational.com March 2009 Investment International
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