John bond hsbc biography

Biography of John Reginald Hartnell Bond

John Reginald Hartnell Bond, born on July 24, 1940, in Oxford, England, is one of the most well-known and influential bankers of his generation. He attended Tonbridge School, an independent boarding school for boys in Kent, and although he was unable to attend Oxford University, Bond took advantage of an opportunity to spend two years in the United States after completing school.

During his time in the US, Bond won a scholarship to study at the Cate School, a boarding school near Santa Barbara, California. Afterward, he worked as a sailor on a cargo ship and eventually found himself in Hong Kong. This marked the beginning of his forty-five-year career in banking with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Despite not having a university education, Bond demonstrated his intellectual capabilities by achieving the second highest score in the world in the Institute of Banking Examinations. At the age of 19, he joined the bank as an intern and embarked on an adventure that took him from a modest room in a poor neighborhood to a top management position in one of the most powerful and influential companies in the world.

Bond spent 25 years working in various Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, before spending four years in the United States. He eventually returned to the United Kingdom, where he became the Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc, the second-largest banking group in the world. Bond also served as a member of the Chief Executive's Council of International Advisers for the Hong Kong government from 1998 to 2005.

Throughout his career, Bond held positions on the boards of Ford Motor Company and Vodafone. After retiring from his role at HSBC, he took on the position of Chairman of Vodafone Group plc. Bond also led the Institute of International Finance and the charity organization English Speaking Union, which played a significant role in his own life.

Under Bond's leadership, HSBC experienced tremendous progress and expanded its influence beyond its core franchises in Hong Kong and the UK. His goal was to transform HSBC into one of the most efficient and profitable banks in the world, and he successfully achieved this.

Bond is married to Lady Elizabeth Bond, and they have two daughters and a son. His eldest daughter, Annabelle Bond, made history as the fourth British woman to conquer Mount Everest and the only woman to climb the Seven Summits in the shortest period of time.

In recognition of his achievements in the field of banking, Bond was knighted in 1999. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the European Business Awards in March 2007. Despite his success, Bond considers himself an ordinary person who has been fortunate in life.