HSBC chief exec: ‘If I wasn’t gay I probably wouldn’t be CEO’
By Will Stroude
The chief executive of HSBC UK has argued that being gay has been an “advantage” for him in the workplace.
Antonio Simoes, who topped the Out at Work list of 50 leading LGBT executives last week, said his age and Portuguese nationality were more surprising factors when considering his success in the UK finance industry, The Independent reports.
Explaining why his sexuality had been an advantage for him, the 39-year-old explained: “It made me a more authentic person, better able to empathise, and with more emotional intelligence.
“If I wasn’t gay, probably I wouldn’t be CEO of the bank.”
He continued: “It’s never going to happen again in the history of HSBC UK that a 39-year-old short, bald, Portuguese becomes CEO of the bank but I hope – in fact, I am sure – that we will have a lot more gay CEOs for generations to come.”
Mr Simoes, who is married, also told the Portuguese newspaper Expresso that Apple CEO Tim Cook’s decision to publicly acknowledge his sexuality last year had helped open the door for LGBT executives.
Meanwhile, Stonewall have published their list oft he UK’s top 100 LGBT-friendly workplaces. Find out if your employer or university made the cut here.
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