HSBC has appointed Ian Stuart as the first chief executive of its ring-fenced UK bank. Mr Stuart will take up the role after three years at the lender, having served as head of commercial banking for the UK and Europe. HSBC is being forced to separate its retail division under new regulations that require lenders to protect customers and business clients from more risky investment divisions. The head office of HSBC's UK retail bank is being relocated from London to Birmingham as part of those plans.