James B Comey, Jr, an independent non-executive director of HSBC Holdings Plc will resign from the HSBC board effective September 4, following his confirmation by the US Senate as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr Comey was nominated for that post by President Barack Obama in June.Mr Comey was appointed to the HSBC board on March 4 and served on the Financial System Vulnerabilities Committee.Commenting on Mr Comey’s resignation, HSBC Group chairman Douglas Flint said: “On behalf of the Board, I warmly congratulate Jim on his appointment as director of the FBI. The appointment reflects his expertise and the esteem in which he is held. We are sad to lose Jim’s wise counsel and are grateful to him for the contribution he has made to HSBC in his brief time as a non-executive director and member of the Financial System Vulnerabilities Committee. We wish him the very best with his appointment to this important role.”