HSBC appoints new Birmingham area commercial director
HSBC Commercial Banking has appointed Rikki Griffiths as area commercial director (ACD) for Birmingham.
Griffiths, who will be responsible for supporting companies from the city with a turnover of between £500,000 and £30m, joins soon after the launch of HSBC’s £500m SME fund specifically for West Midlands businesses.
He moves to the role following a two-year stint as ACD for HSBC’s Liverpool team, where he grew the lending book significantly and attracted a number of high-profile new customers to the bank.
He has more than three decades of experience in corporate and commercial banking and he held a number of senior roles at Barclays prior to joining HSBC in 2012.
Griffiths will lead a team of 50 in Birmingham, 25 of whom are relationship managers. His remit will see him focus on working with new and existing customers alike to help them achieve their growth ambitions.
Last month HSBC launched a £500m SME Fund specifically to support businesses from the West Midlands, £200m of which will be administered by Griffiths’ team for Birmingham businesses.
Griffiths said: “Coming from the North West, it was a major decision for me to leave the Liverpool Commercial team, but the potential of Birmingham and its surrounding areas is immense and a major pull.
“The city boasts some fantastic innovative and ambitious companies and there is certainly a buzz of confidence around Birmingham at present, which I want my team to tap into.
“The launch of the £500m West Midlands SME Fund, which is new money, is a clear sign of intent that HSBC wants to work with businesses to help them achieve their growth plans.”
Roy Harris, HSBC Midlands regional commercial director, said: “It’s a real coup to get somebody of Rikki’s calibre and experience to lead the Birmingham commercial team and I’m confident he’ll make a big impact.
“He is passionate about business and he is passionate about helping companies to grow.”
Harris recently announced that he is to retire from his role at HSBC.
