Michael Sandberg
Encyclopedia
Michael Graham Ruddock Sandberg, Baron Sandberg was Executive Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1977-1986.
and educated at St Edward's School, Oxford. In 1945 he joined the army and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps
in 1946. and was promoted to lieutenant in November 1947. He later volunteered to join the Indian Army
. Upon Indian independence he joined the First King’s Dragoon Guards in January 1949.
In 1949 he joined The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, becoming Chairman and Chief Executive in 1977. During his chairmanship the bank saw substantial international expansion, acquiring a 51% stake in Marine Midland Bank
in the United States of America, establishing the Hongkong Bank of Canada in 1981 and HongkongBank of Australia Limited
in 1986. As Chairman Sandberg was responsible for the construction of the landmark HSBC Main Building in Central, Hong Kong
, which at the time was the most expensive building ever constructed in the world.
On retirement he received a knighthood
for "public services in Hong Kong" (having previously been appointed OBE and then CBE
) and in 1997 he was created a Life peer
in the House of Lords
in the style Baron
Sandberg of Passfield in the County of Hampshire.
He now lives in Hampshire
.
History
Sandberg was born in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and educated at St Edward's School, Oxford. In 1945 he joined the army and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
in 1946. and was promoted to lieutenant in November 1947. He later volunteered to join the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. Upon Indian independence he joined the First King’s Dragoon Guards in January 1949.
In 1949 he joined The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, becoming Chairman and Chief Executive in 1977. During his chairmanship the bank saw substantial international expansion, acquiring a 51% stake in Marine Midland Bank
Marine Midland Bank
Marine Midland Bank was a bank formerly headquartered in Buffalo with several hundred branches throughout the state of New York. Marine Midland began in 1850 in Buffalo as the Marine Trust Company with the objective of financing the new shipping trade on the Great Lakes...
in the United States of America, establishing the Hongkong Bank of Canada in 1981 and HongkongBank of Australia Limited
HSBC Bank Australia
HSBC Bank Australia Limited was granted a banking license in 1986 having been established as HSBC Finance Company Limited in 1965. It is a fully owned subsidiary of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and part of the worldwide HSBC Group...
in 1986. As Chairman Sandberg was responsible for the construction of the landmark HSBC Main Building in Central, Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, which at the time was the most expensive building ever constructed in the world.
On retirement he received a knighthood
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
for "public services in Hong Kong" (having previously been appointed OBE and then CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
) and in 1997 he was created a Life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in the style Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Sandberg of Passfield in the County of Hampshire.
He now lives in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
External links
- Lord Sandberg profile at the site of Liberal Democrats