ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Vol. 41 - No 42
Financial Times  

The largest and most diverse employee base in Asia and the Pacific

HSBC fully geared to face HR challenges

By Bandula Sirimanna
HSBC is fully geared to face recruitment, pay practice, leadership and training challenges in the field of human resource development while providing excellent modern banking facilities to its customers, a top visiting official said this week.

Steve Tait, HSBC’s Head of Human Resources Asia Pacific Region is currently in the island on his first visit to discuss several key HR initiatives to be implemented in Sri Lanka over the next few years and to meet with the bank’s managerial team in Colombo.
He also visited the newly opened state–of–the-art learning centre at Kollupitiya.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times FT, Tait elaborating on the four HR challenges said that HSBC is fully committed to follow proper recruitment procedures, provide attractive salaries, identify leadership qualities and provide excellent training facilities for its employees.

The region's largest bank routinely sends its bankers around the world as a way of giving them the experience they need for the top jobs. Its talent recruitment and development programme is regarded in the industry as one of the most comprehensive.

To start, members of the human resources team trek around the world annually to recruit university graduates of high potential to join its Management Development Program, Tait added.

He said, “At HSBC we strongly believe that people are fundamental to our business and its success. Our top priority is to identify, retain and develop high potential talent. We currently have the largest and most diverse employee base in the Asia Pacific region”.

He said the bank’s doesn’t adopt short term strategies for quick gains. “We commit to sustainable growth in human resources and have made great efforts in staff training and development,” he noted.

HSBC has rolled out local, overseas and on-line training courses to staff. In addition to training the bank has also offered overseas attachment programmes to executives and officers so that they can gain practical experience and international exposure. “And in order to prepare the next generation of leaders, we have identified talent and sent them to the Management/Leadership Assessment Centre and Development Programs,” Tait said.

He pointed out that the Management Associate Programme and the Commercial Banking Development Programof HSBC are aimed at attracting high calibre candidates for middle and senior management positions. When working for HSBC, employees are offered clear career paths and a range of opportunities, he said.

At HSBC, the human resources function is seen as an integral part of its business success. Competition, constant change, and a firm commitment to the development of people now create trainee opportunities in this function. To ensure the required expertise is available, we have established a programme dedicated to developing professionals in this area, Tait noted.
In Sri Lanka, HSBC has a total staff strength of over 1,550.

 

 
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Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.