HSBC Names Interim Compliance Chief

Mr. Bell had been closely involved with a strategic transformation plan for Europe and was therefore well positioned for the role, the company said. The move was part of a broader shuffle in senior management across divisions at HSBC.

Ms. Everett will take up Mr. Bell’s role in addition to her existing responsibilities, a company spokesman said. Ms. Everett joined HSBC in 2019 to head the digital transformation of the bank’s compliance function, according to the bank. Before arriving at HSBC, she served in compliance roles at the

UBS Group AG

.

HSBC has faced regulatory challenges across its operations in recent years, paying penalties to settle allegations of defrauding clients through a practice known as front-running and helping Americans evade taxes.

In 2012, the bank entered into a settlement with U.S. prosecutors that allowed it to avoid criminal charges over anti-money-laundering failures on the condition that it undertake compliance reforms over a five-year period under the watch of an independent monitor.

The bank also paid a then-record $1.9 billion to settle the U.S. Justice Department’s allegations it failed to spot the laundered proceeds of drug trafficking in Mexico, and that its employees stripped data from transactions involving sanctioned nations such as Iran to avoid detection.

Mr. Bell fills a role that had been held by Nuno Matos. In November, HSBC said Mr. Matos would become CEO of HSBC’s wealth and personal banking business.

The bank also appointed Michael Roberts as CEO of the U.S. and Americas businesses, starting April 5. The new role, which is in addition to his existing responsibilities as CEO of HSBC Bank USA, will focus on strengthening flows of business across the Americas region, the bank said.

HSBC also appointed Stephen Moss as CEO of its Middle East, North Africa and Turkey business starting April 4.

Mr. Bell, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Moss will continue to report directly to group Chief Executive

Noel Quinn,

the company said.

—Joe Hoppe contributed to this article.

Write to Dylan Tokar at dylan.tokar@wsj.com