HSBC gives key marketer golden handcuff offer

HSBC is understood to be expanding the role of its key marketer Chris Clark in an effort to keep him at the bank, as it starts a review of its global marketing team.

The move follows speculation that Saatchi & Saatchi approached former agency executive Clark, head of market planning at HSBC, to fill its vacant chief executive post.

The decision to promote Clark also follows HSBC’s failure so far to replace its global marketer Peter Stringham, since he announced his departure in October. As a result, the role is under review and HSBC is considering splitting the strategic duties from the operational. Such a move would allow Clark to step up to a top level marketing role. It is thought that Clark will take on a brand level position as part of a broader remit of his role.

The group general manager of marketing, Stringham left HSBC earlier this year to join WPP.

Clark joined HSBC in†2001 as head of e-marketing, moving to his current role in 2002.

Prior to joining HSBC, he was executive vice-president and head of strategic planning for Bates USA and Latin America, the US’s sixth largest advertising agency group at the time, and a subsidiary of Saatchi & Saatchi.

He joined after his responsibilities as Bates Dorland managing director were diluted in a management shake-up. Previously, he worked at Saatchi & Saatchi and Levis Strauss in brand management.