LONDON — HSBC has consolidated its global communications function under the leadership of group GM Pierre Goad, with external affairs head Katja Hall departing the banking giant.

The restructuring sees the external affairs function, led by Hall since late 2015, re-combined with employee insight and communications, which Goad has been managing since he extended his remit to include human resources in early 2015. 

Goad handed back HR leadership towards the end of last year; he now resumes direct oversight of media relations, social media, corporate publications and speech-writing, adding to his existing responsibilities for employee comms, content, employer brand, employee insight and building the bank's alumni network. 

Hall leaves HSBC after joining the bank from the CBI in 2015, where she was deputy director-general. 

Goad has been included in the Holmes Report's Influence 100 every year since its launch, and was also recognised with the Individual Achievement SABRE Award in Berlin last year.