HSBC Private Bank has confirmed that Lea Blinoff, head of products and services, has left the company.

A spokesperson from the bank stated that no one has been chosen to replace Ms Blinoff in her role as managing director and also denied media reports that HSBC Private Bank director Tracy Maeter had been earmarked for the role. “I can confirm that no successor has been appointed yet and HSBC Private Bank will be going through a rigorous selection process both internally and externally,” said the spokesperson.

According to a statement, Ms Blinoff, who was a managing director at JP Morgan prior to her appointment at HSBC, has decided to leave to pursue other interests and departs with the bank’s best wishes.

HSBC’s private banking entities operate across 43 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa and had a combined $433 billion in client assets under management at the end of 2008. The bank's Private Wealth Solutions arm has a headcount of around 900 employees.