LEADING INTERNATIONAL FINANCE EXPERTS JOIN HSBC BOARD

London, U.K. – 27 February, 2012 – HSBC Holdings plc (Ticker: HSBC.BH) today announced appointments of Joachim Faber (61), former Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Global Investors AG and John Lipsky (65), former First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, as Directors of HSBC Holdings plc with effect from 1 March 2012. They will both be independent non-executive Directors and members of the Group Risk Committee.

Gwyn Morgan and Sir Brian Williamson will retire as non-executive Directors at HSBC’s Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2012 and will not seek re-election.

Dr. Faber was Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Global Investors AG, a leading active asset manager which operates in 19 markets around the world, until 31 December 2011. He joined the Management Board of Allianz SE in 2000 and was previously Head of Capital Markets for Europe, North America and Japan at Citigroup Inc.

Mr Lipsky served at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2006 to 2011. He was First Deputy Managing Director from 2006 and held the position of Acting Managing Director from May through June 2011. Before joining the IMF, he was Vice Chairman of JP Morgan Investment Bank.

Commenting on the appointments, HSBC Group Chairman Douglas Flint said: “On behalf of the Board I warmly welcome Joachim and John to HSBC. We will benefit from their global experience as we implement our strategy, based on increasing global trade flows and faster-growing markets, to be recognised as the world’s leading international bank. I would also like to thank Gwyn and Brian for their immense contributions to the Board’s deliberations over the past six and nine years respectively, in particular Gwyn’s membership of the Group Remuneration Committee and Brian’s commitment to the Nomination Committee, of which he was previously Chairman. I know I speak on behalf of the entire Board when I thank them both for their wise counsel.”

Both appointments will be for an initial three-year term which, subject to re-election by shareholders at the 2012 Annual General Meeting, will expire at the conclusion of the 2015 Annual General Meeting. The Directors have determined that Dr. Faber and Mr Lipsky are independent. In making that determination the Directors concluded that there are no relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect Dr. Faber’s or Mr Lipsky’s judgement and any relationships or circumstances which could appear to do so were not considered to be material.

Following the Group’s Annual General Meeting on 25 May 2012 and subject to re-election by shareholders where appropriate, the Board of HSBC Holdings plc will comprise 17 directors of which four will be executive directors and 13 will be independent non-executive directors.

Media enquiries to:

Brendan McNamara on +44 (0) 20 7991 0655 or at brendan.mcnamara@hsbc.com