HSBC North America Holdings Inc. announced the appointment of Stephen Bottomley as a senior executive vice president and head of Commercial Banking for North America. Based in New York City, he will manage HSBC’s commercial banking operations across the United States, Canada and Bermuda. He succeeds Mark Watkinson, who became CEO, Malta. In his new role, Bottomley reports to Alan Keir, group managing director and global head of Commercial Banking, and locally to Irene Dorner, group general manager, president and CEO, HSBC USA.

Prior to his new role, Bottomley served as HSBC’s head of Strategy and Planning for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. During his nearly 30-year career with HSBC, Bottomley has held numerous executive leadership positions, including as the head of European Strategy, the head of Commercial Banking in the United Kingdom and the head of Commercial Finance in Europe. One of Bottomley’s first executive assignments was in Toronto as an assistant vice president with HSBC Bank Canada.

“Today, tremendous opportunity exists for North American businesses to flourish in the international marketplace,” said Dorner. “Steve will lead a growing commercial banking business here, which is at the center of HSBC’s strategy in the region. I am confident Steve’s experience, ability to execute and strong leadership will further our efforts to serve the growing number of small, middle-market and large companies conducting business or considering conducting business internationally.”

Bottomley is a 1982 graduate of Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance.