HSBC has appointed three new heads to its global trade and receivables finance (GTRF) team.

In Brazil, Gerd Pircher has been named regional head of Latin America, with effect from February 1.

He will be based in Sao Paulo and report functionally to James Emmett, global head of GTRF, and regionally to Eddie Norton, head of commercial banking, Latin America. Pircher joined HSBC close to two decades ago, and his most recent position was as head of strategy and planning for the bank’s Europe business.

In Hong Kong, Wei Wei Ng has been appointed head of international, GTRF Asia, with effect from February 15. She will make the move from her current role as head of GTRF for the bank’s Malaysia business, and will report to Simon Constantinides, regional head of GTRF Asia Pacific.

Ng replaces Quang Huynh, who was recently named head of commercial banking for HSBC Indonesia.

Finally, in London, Lorna Strong has been named deputy general counsel for GTRF.

James Emmett says that as well as acting as the primary legal advisor for GTRF’s operations globally, “Lorna will play a key role in shaping HSBC’s contribution to current regulatory and policy debates on trade finance”.

She took up the position on January 1 and reports to Jonathan Peplow, global general counsel. She has also joined the GTRF executive committee.

Strong joined HSBC Canada in 2001.