HSBC
Head of Strategic Debt and Distribution, HSBC Innovation Banking
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The Role
The Head of Strategic Debt & Distribution is a senior leadership role reporting to the Head of Growth & Financing, HSBC Innovation Banking UK. The role is responsible for leading a small team of experienced lenders focused on large and complex debt opportunities across the Technology and Life Sciences portfolio (spanning all relevant sectors and life stages), including syndication, distribution and strategic growth capital solutions. The role holder will drive origination and high-quality execution of some of HSBC Innovation Banking UK’s most complex debt transactions. This includes structuring and delivering cashflow, asset-based and investor-dependent loans, coordinating multi-bank transactions, and partnering across the Innovation Banking platform to ensure outcomes are delivered in a well controlled manner. This is a highly visible role requiring strong credit judgement, execution discipline, and a highly collaborative approach. Success will depend on close partnership with Relationship Managers and sector coverage teams, Debt Finance colleagues, and key partners in VCRM, Strategic Fund Solutions, Risk and Operations to deliver “one team” outcomes for clients. The role holder will be accountable for balance sheet performance objectives, including asset growth and ECL, and will be comfortable operating at senior levels internally and externally, ideally bringing an established network in the innovation economy.
Responsibilities
- Own and execute the Strategic Debt & Distribution agenda for HSBC Innovation Banking UK’s Tech & Life Sciences portfolio, aligned to the wider growth strategy set by the Head of Growth & Financing, including prioritisation of the largest/most strategic opportunities and clear success metrics.
- Lead and develop the Strategic Debt & Distribution team, setting clear expectations and accountabilities, coaching experienced lenders, and embedding a high-performance culture that balances commercial delivery with disciplined credit and execution standards.
- Origination and delivery of large/outsized opportunities across Technology and Life Sciences, including complex bilateral and syndicated financings, strategic growth capital structures, and event-driven financings (as applicable).
- Transaction structuring leadership: design and negotiate appropriate debt structures including cashflow and investor-dependent lending, with strong judgement on covenant packages, documentation approach, pricing, tenor, and collateral/credit protections in line with risk appetite.
- Syndications and distribution: lead end-to-end execution of multi-bank transactions, including lender strategy and relationships with distribution partners, market soundings (where applicable), distribution positioning, coordination with internal and external stakeholders, and delivery to timeline.
- Portfolio company collaboration: partner closely with Relationship Managers and Technology/Life Sciences coverage teams to identify and convert strategic opportunities, ensuring seamless coverage and clear ownership from origination through execution and ongoing stewardship.
- Investor and ecosystem collaboration: work in partnership with VCRM and Strategic Fund Solutions to unlock investor-led opportunities (fund and portfolio), align on coverage activity, and ensure a coordinated approach to founders, CFOs and investors.
- Execution governance and control: ensure high-quality, well controlled execution by partnering with Risk and Operations to shape deal processes, ensure robust approvals, accurate documentation, and strong post-close hygiene (conditions, monitoring, and operational readiness).
- Balance sheet performance accountability: contribute to and deliver balance sheet objectives, including asset growth and ECL performance, through disciplined underwriting, proactive portfolio management input, and early identification of emerging risks.
- Pipeline discipline and MI: run effective routines for prioritisation and pipeline management (deal forums, pipeline reviews, execution check-ins), supported by clear management information on deal progress, returns, concentrations and risk indicators.
- Cross-boundary collaboration to deliver “one HSBC”: coordinate with relevant HSBC partners as appropriate to support client outcomes and ensure a consistent face to market, efficient client journeys and consistent standards across coverage and product teams.
- Market presence and external credibility: represent HSBC Innovation Banking UK with senior founders, CFOs, investors and syndicate partners; maintain and grow an external network in the innovation economy to support sourcing, distribution and market insight.
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Requirements (Skills/experience)
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- Proven experience as a seasoned lender within the innovation economy, with strong credibility advising founders/CFOs and investors across Technology and Life Sciences.
- Demonstrable track record of leading teams to deliver commercial outcomes, including coaching experienced colleagues and managing performance with clear objectives and accountability.
- Strong experience structuring and executing complex debt transactions, including cashflow and investor-dependent lending, with robust credit judgement and documentation understanding.
- Proven capability in multi-bank transactions, including syndications and distribution, stakeholder management, and delivery against tight timelines.
- Strong collaborative leadership style with experience partnering across Relationship Management, debt finance teams and control functions; ability to work effectively with VCRM, Strategic Fund Solutions, Risk and Operations to deliver controlled outcomes.
- Strong risk mindset with experience operating in a well-governed environment, balancing growth and client outcomes with disciplined underwriting and execution standards.
- Ideally an established external network across the innovation ecosystem (founders, CFOs, investors and lending/syndication counterparties).
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills; confident operating at senior internal and external levels with sound judgement and resilience.
Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.
If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk via hsbc.recruitment@hsbc.com.
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