In the course of a near 30-year career in banking, Margaret Leung Ko May-yee has seen what it takes to create a major financial powerhouse and an internationally recognised brand.
As general manager and global co-head of commercial banking for the HSBC Group, she is responsible for relationships with all middle-market corporate clients and SMEs in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. This makes her a key figure in initiatives to extend the bank's international footprint, introduce new products and services, and help it to steadily climb the league table of the world's best-known brands.
'It is the sort of role that, not many years ago, simply didn't exist. When I first joined HSBC, it was all about local business,' said Ms Leung, who joined the bank in 1978 with a business degree from the University of Hong Kong after a stint as a management trainee with the Bank of America. 'But I thought, 'It is a big bank here in Hong Kong, and they are offering a high salary. If I don't like the job, I can switch to another in two years'.'
As it turned out, her first assignment was to get an international corporate account division up and running. And while doing that, she discovered that the vision of former chairman William Purves was not merely to be a major regional bank, but to become a major global player.
In line with this, Ms Leung was transferred to Australia in 1985 to set up a new entity there, and on returning to Hong Kong was responsible for reorganising the local branch structure. This brought her into contact with corporate customers and made her realise the long-term importance of supporting their business in China.
'Although it was not a profit-making business at the time, we were able to build up a very good relationship with our clients,' she said.