Alex Hungate is to leave Reuters after 14 years and join HSBC as head of personal financial services and marketing globally.
Most recently the managing directors of Reuters' Asia operations, Hungate's departure comes ahead of the proposed merger with Thomson. It marks the end of a 14-year career with the UK news and information group that saw him take on roles in the UK, US and Hong Kong, including four years as chief marketing officer.
When Tom Glocer became Reuters chief executive in 2001 he chose Hungate as America co-head.
At HSBC, Hungate will lead a business that serves over 120 million customers worldwide and will assume responsibility for overseeing the group's advertising, sponsorship and customer marketing activities.
Based in London, he will report directly to HSBC's group chief executive, Michael Geoghegan and take a seat on the 10-strong global group management board.