Standard Life Aberdeen PLC is poised to announce the appointment of former HSBC Holdings PLC Chair Douglas Flint as its new chairman in the coming weeks, the Financial Times reported, citing two people close to the process.

The British asset manager initially planned to appoint a new chairman in 2019 but it completed the search for Gerry Grimstone's successor months ahead of schedule, the sources said.

Flint's recommendation for the post has yet to be formalized and still has to be approved by the company's board, one source told the newspaper.

Other contenders for the role reportedly included Standard Life Aberdeen senior independent director Kevin Parry and former Bank of England Deputy Gov. Paul Tucker.

Standard Life Aberdeen previously said Grimstone will step down by no later than the end of 2019, although he is now expected to leave the role earlier, the FT said.

Flint was appointed nonexecutive chairman of British private equity firm IP Group PLC in September.