HSBC Bank Bermuda will have a new chief executive officer within two months.

The bank announced this morning that Mark Watkinson, the CEO of HSBC Bank Malta, will take over the job as of November 2.

He will succeed Richard Moseley, who will leave after completing a six-year stint in Bermuda.

Mr Watkinson has been with HSBC since 1986. His prior HSBC assignments include roles as head of Commercial Banking in North America, executive vice-president of Commercial Banking in Canada, and CEO in the Philippines. Mark has also worked in the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Hong Kong and the UK.

The appointment is subject to Immigration, regulatory and other approvals.

Philip Butterfield, the chairman of HSBC Bank Bermuda, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark, whom we know at HSBC Bermuda from the time he spent in North America. His experience in Malta, where HSBC has a similarly strong presence, will help position the bank for further growth.

“We would like to also thank Richard for his contribution, where under his firm leadership the Bank has made significant progress, with continued strong liquidity and capital ratios and an excellent customer franchise — all of which are key to our continued success.”

Chris Davies, CEO of HSBC International, said: “Thanks to the wealth of international banking experience that Mark Watkinson brings to this role, he is very well positioned to continue implementation of our strategy to position HSBC as the leading international bank and the bank of choice for customers.

“I would like to thank Richard Moseley for successfully leading the bank in Bermuda and his dedicated service during the past years.”

Mr Moseley said: “I look forward to Mark’s arrival in late October and introducing him to our many stakeholders. I am confident that he will be welcomed by staff and customers alike, and will build on the momentum that we have today, where we see growth opportunities in many areas, given our strong local and global franchise and quality of our staff here in Bermuda.”