HSBC has announced the key appointment of Mark Frettingham as Head of Corporate Banking for the Southern Corporate Banking Centre, which has offices in both Southampton and Crawley, covering the area from Kent to Weymouth. Mark has a wealth of banking experience and will manage HSBC’s Corporate banking operations supporting businesses with a turnover of greater than £30m.

Mark has been leading the Solent Corporate Banking Centre for 5 years and now has responsibility for the larger area. Mark has worked for HSBC for 34 years and assumes overall responsibility for the Corporate Banking Centre’s clients as well as the development of HSBC’s business in the South.

As well as having relationship managers for all its clients, including potential new customers, specialist capability also exists in both sites in relation to International Trade, Invoice Finance, Asset Finance, Treasury Products, Payments & Cash Management, Debt & Capital Markets and a host of other products and services.

Commenting on his new role, Mark said: “I’m delighted to be leading such a dedicated and industrious team and I am keen to work with our corporate clients to help them achieve their ambitions whether trading locally, across the UK or internationally. Even in the difficult times we have faced recently there are fantastic success stories locally which HSBC has been proud to support.

He adds: “These are challenging times for businesses, but they also offer great opportunities. We forecast that UK international trade will grow by 60% over the next 15 years and I’m committed to working with my experienced and capable team to help our corporate clients strengthen their businesses both domestically and internationally. By 2050, we believe that 19 of the 30 largest economies in the world will be ones that we today describe as emerging markets.

“We are in the fortunate position of being able to offer businesses worldwide expertise and global solutions. Whilst knowing the local market inside out, we want to ensure that we’re giving our customers flexible financial support, when and where they need it.”

Mark is married and has two daughters, one at University and the other working locally. When not at work other interests include sports especially football and golf and he is learning to play the drums.