According to a report in Financial Times, HSBC CEO Keith Whitson rates the Asian staff of the bank for highly than those it employs in the UK. He is reported to have said of his Asian staff: “They’re quicker at answering the phone, highly numerate and keen to come to work every day. Staff are hugely enthusiastic about their jobs, they dress well. A lot have degrees.”
HSBC employs some 5,000 people in its UK processing and call centres. “I wouldn’t say in all cases the performance in the UK is inferior. The quality of work overseas is exceptionally high,” Sir Keith is reported to have said.
HSBC will employ 4,500 staff in processing centres in India and China by the end of the year. In India it has centres in Hyderabad, with another planned for Bangalore. In China it has one in Guangzhou and plans one in Malaysia next year.