Sandy Flockhart is to retire as a non-executive director of HSBC Holdings plc, and from his position as chairman of HSBC Bank plc, and as a director of HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd on 31 July 2012.

Flockhart previously stepped down as an executive in April 2012 after a long career with HSBC, most recently as chairman of HSBC’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and, prior to that, CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and president and group managing director with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean.

He also served as CEO in Mexico, managing director in Saudi Arabia, CEO in Thailand and chairman of HSBC Malaysia.

Douglas Flint, group chairman, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sandy for his dedicated and loyal service to HSBC over 37 years including the last four years on the HSBC Holdings Board and wish him well for the future, particularly in his continuing fight against cancer.”