"Having a litany of names proved to be more of a handicap than an advantage," he added. Later this year HSBC will begin listing its shares in U.S. dollars-a move that Mr. Bond believes will boost U.S. investor demand. The shares, currently traded on the Hong Kong and London exchanges in the local currencies, would also be traded in New York in the form of American depositary receipts. Board approval of the capital restructuring is expected May 28, a spokeswoman said. Mr. Bond also said HSBC is shifting to a product-oriented strategy and away from a geographical one, because a product-based approach is better suited to the demands of an increasingly global market. In fact, a key reason HSBC is buying Republic is to obtain its global private banking business. Analysts said the bank is showing far greater attention to investors. And it appears that it is becoming less the domain of white men. "You're starting to see Asians and women showing up for the first time in the management cadres," Mr. Leonard noted.