HSBC Holdings Plc will wind down some of its investment banking operations in Europe, the UK and the Americas in the latest sign that Chief Executive Officer Georges Elhedery is willing to be ruthless in his ongoing restructuring of the bank.

By Sinead Cruise LONDON (Reuters) -HSBC plans to wind down its M&A and some equities businesses in Europe and the Americas, the bank said on Tuesday, accelerating a shift to Asia in its biggest retrenchment from investment banking in decades.

HSBC will shut key parts of its investment banking business in the UK, Europe and the Americas as part of chief executive Georges Elhedery’s plan to overhaul its operations.

Boss Georges Elhedery (pictured) is pressing ahead with an overhaul of the Asia-focused bank including a geographic split between East and West.

Back in October, the bank unveiled plans for a new geographic setup and set out to consolidate its operations into four business units.

LONDON -- U.K.-based financial services company HSBC Holdings is forging ahead with a restructuring plan that will downsize its investment banking business in Europe and the Americas and accelerate a shift to Asia, Nikkei has learned.

HSBC Holdings Plc (LON:HSBA) is set to scale down its investment banking operations in certain regions as part of an ongoing restructuring process led by CEO Georges Elhedery. The bank will cease providing equity underwriting and advisory services in Europe,

HSBC Holdings Plc, has announced plans to scale down its investment banking operations across Europe, the UK, and the Americas. Europe's largest banking group wants to concentrate its resources on Eastern markets,