Hires n Fires: HSBC names Sekora head of personal services/ Former RIM executive joins Fink fund

British banking giant HSBC has named Johan Sekora as head of personal financial services ahead of its formal launch into retail banking in Russia next Tuesday.

Sekora will be responsible for launching, rolling out and managing the bank’s Russian retail operations. Sekora, who will be based in the bank’s Moscow headquarters, has been with HSBC for nearly ten years. He has had extensive experience launching retail businesses around the world, including, most recently, in Japan in 2008.

EmergingMarkets.me had previously reported that HSBC was pushing ahead with its $200m drive into Russian retail banking despite the global financial crisis. It is expected the bank will announce four new branch openings next week. Its inaugural Moscow branch is to be located on Malaya Nikitskaya in the centre of the city.

Meanwhile Rod Barker, the  former UK chief executive of Russia’s Renaissance Investment Management, has  resurfaced at International Standard Asset Management, an absolute return London based hedge fund, just two weeks after leaving the Russian fund manager.

Rod joins Standard, an absolute return London based hedge fund, as director and partner with responsibility for business development and will work alongside chief executive Stanley Fink, former chairman of Man Group and one of the most respected figures in the global hedge fund industry.

Barker will be responsible for expanding the funds distribution capabilities, product development and operational capabilities.

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