HSBC's leaky sustainability team appears to have another wet patch

For a business focused on sustainability, HSBC's sustainability team seems to offer careers that are not always sustainable. Various people have left, sometimes of their own accords, sometimes not. 

💥Follow us on WhatsApp for news alerts.💥

We understand that the latest to go on her way, for reasons that have not been explained, is Zoe Knight, HSBC's global head of sustainability research and integration. HSBC isn't commenting, but Knight is thought to be in the process of departing from her job. She did not respond to an attempt to get in touch with her. Multiple sources said she is leaving.

HSBC's sustainability team has experienced various leaks. Celine Herweijer, the group chief sustainability officer left the bucket in the wake of a board shake-up in 2024. Farnam Bidgoli, the head of global ESG Solutions, was cut while on maternity leave in 2025, as was Gayle Muirs, who was covering her job. 

Knight may have left of her own volition. She joined the bank in London in 2010 but moved to Dubai with HSBC in 2022 and became head of sustainability research and integration there in January 2026. Her passion appears to be net zero.  

Knight is not the only exit from HSBC's broader research team this year. Erwan Rambourg, a top luxury goods researcher and expert on Chinese consumers and bling, left in June and is due to arrive at Goldman Sachs shortly. 

Follow me on X. Follow me on LinkedIn. 

Have a confidential story, tip, or comment you’d like to share? Contact: +44 7537 182250 (SMS, Whatsapp or voicemail). Telegram: @SarahButcher. Signal: sarahbutcher.22  Click here to fill in our anonymous form, or email editortips@efinancialcareers.com. 

Bear with us if you leave a comment at the bottom of this article: comments are moderated intermittently by human beings. Sometimes these humans might be asleep, or away from their desks, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You must take sole responsibility for comments you post on this site. We will take reasonable steps to weed out anything that we consider to be offensive or inappropriate.