The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has recently announced that Naina Lal Kidwai will be joining its board, effective 1 October.

Kidwai has been with HSBC since 2002 and most recently served as head of the firm's India operations. Her appointment to the board is a sign of the bank's growing commitment to the South Asian region, where a good number of the world's untapped wealthy individuals reside.

"We recently announced our third major investment in the country in the last two years and see a range of growth opportunities in areas of strength for HSBC, including insurance and in serving businesses that trade internationally," said Michael Geoghegan, group chief executive and chairman.

HSBC last month took over the Indian retail and commercial banking operations of the Royal Bank of Scotland and said it is committed to further expanding in the area.