HSBC has appointed Paul Skelton as regional head of commercial banking, Asia Pacific, effective from 1 October 2015. Skelton will be responsible for leading all aspects of the commercial banking business across the markets in the region including global trade and receivables finance (GTRF) as well as payments and cash management (PCM). 

Skelton reports jointly to Simon Cooper, group managing director and chief executive, global commercial banking and Peter Wong, group managing director, deputy chairman and chief executive of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. 

“By 2025, we expect Asia-Pacific to contribute 36% of global GDP and, with a footprint in 19 markets across the region, HSBC is in a strong position to capitalize on this growth opportunity," says Cooper.

“Paul brings with him a wealth of experience from both MENA as well as from his time within Asia-Pacific. He will focus on capturing the region’s emerging wealth by connecting corporates to opportunities across the world, with a renewed focus on China’s Pearl River Delta as well as the rising Asean," Cooper adds. 

Prior to this role, Skelton held the position of regional head of commercial banking for HSBC Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Before his time in the Middle East, Skelton spent 13 years in the Asia-Pacific region holding a number of senior roles in HSBC's corporate and investment banking business.

Skelton has over 20 years of experience of dealing with corporate and institutional clients in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.