StanChart i-bank boss top prospect to succeed CEO – FT

Simon Cooper, Standard Chartered PLC's investment banking head, has become the front-runner to succeed Bill Winters as CEO of the U.K.-based bank after his advisory and trading division outperformed in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The division's better-than-expected performance has lifted Cooper above StanChart's other main internal prospect, Ben Hung, the group's CEO for Greater China and North Asia and head of retail banking and wealth management, according to the Jan. 14 report. Chairman José Viñals, however, is also reportedly considering external candidates to prepare for Winter's eventual departure.

Executives at the bank have also held informal talks about appointing Cooper as deputy CEO, sources told the newspaper.

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Winters is not due to step down from the helm of the bank in 2021 after leading the group since 2015, but is nearing the end of his term, the FT noted.

Judy Hsu, StanChart's former regional CEO for Southeast and South Asia, was said to be no longer in the running for the top post after her appointment as head of consumer, private and business banking.