HSBC’s Public Affairs Head, Sherard Cowper-Coles To Exit After Controversial Remarks On Britain-US-China
HSBC holdings’ Public Affairs Head, Sherard Cowper-Coles will be leaving the organisation soon. This comes after his controversial remarks on Britain’s take on handling China, the Reuters reported.
Sherard Cowper-Coles would be leaving the banking and financial organisation next month, sources said. Mr. Cowper-Coles, had called Britain ‘weak’ for following the US’s demands in order to curtail business dealings with China. Last month, he had apologised for this controversial remark on Britain.
In a closed-door event in June, he had said that Britain often bowed down to Washington’s demands, and that Britain should look after its own interests, Reuters said.
HSBC, last month said that Mr. Cowper-Coles was at a private roundtable discussion and that he had “shared his personal views.”
In a statement released by HSBC then, Mr Cowper-Coles said, that, “I was speaking at a private event under Chatham House Rule and my personal comments don”t reflect the views of HSBC or the China-Britain Business Council. I apologise for any offence caused.”
Sherard Cowper-Coles, is the Group Head of Public Affairs, HSBC; Chair, China-Britain Business Council and is also a former British ambassador to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
Earlier, HSBC was accused in June by two influential US and British lawmakers, alleging that the organisation thwarted the attempts of the people of Hong Kong to access their pension funds so as to emigrate from the country. This they said, contributed to oppression of the people of Hong Kong, Reuters reported.
The HSBC, is one of the largest banking and financial organisations which has its presence in 62 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, North America and Latin America. It is a British universal bank and financial services group which is headquartered in London, and shares unique historical and business links to East Asia and has a highly multinational footprint. It was formerly known as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and is listed in the London, Hong Kong, New York and Bermuda stock exchanges, its India website said.
