Douglas Flint tipped to become new SLA chairman

Douglas Flint, the former chairman of HSBC has been tipped to become the next chairman of the €697 billion fund manager Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA).

Flint, who retired as chairman of HSBC last year, has been widely reported as being the frontrunner to succeed Gerry Grimstone as SLA chairman, when he steps down early next year.

SLA, however, has made no formal announcement and there are also understood to be at least two or three other candidates being considered for the post.

Sixty-three year old Flint worked at HSBC for 22 years after first training as an accountant at KPMG.

Whoever is appointed to the chairmanship of SLA will join the Edinburgh-based firm at an important juncture for the firm, created through the merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management last year.