HSBC poaches ‘Yorkshire’s most powerful banker’ from rival Barclays

Ben Andrews built a reputation as a top dealmaker at Barclays for his ability to tap capital markets in the City of London on behalf of corporate clients.

His appointment represents a coup for HSBC and its ambitions for corporate banking in the North. Mr Andrews told The Yorkshire Post: “I am pleased to be joining HSBC at this exciting time. The North has a vibrant large corporate sector with many well-known and well-run businesses looking for growth in 2015 and beyond.

“This is a great business with a strong brand and a huge amount of international and local expertise, and I am looking forward to supporting our customers in this new role.”

Mr Andrews spent eight years at Barclays and was latterly key client director, specialising in raising finance from the syndication, high yield bond, sterling and euro bond and private placement markets for clients in financial services, manufacturing, retail and business services sectors.

Lee Collinson, managing director of corporate banking for Barclays in the North East and Yorkshire, said: “As an employer of choice Barclays is able to recruit staff of the highest calibre and it is of little surprise that competitors on occasions seek to recruit members of our team.

“It is sad when this happens but with a pool of extraordinary talent we are very fortunate that we are able to continue with business as usual with minimum disruption to our customers.

“Only last week we promoted three of our rising stars in Yorkshire to director level.”

Mr Andrews was described as “Yorkshire’s most powerful banker” by a well-respected professional in 2012 after some notable fundraisings.