The expected departure of Michael Geoghegan and promotion of Stuart Gulliver to the chief executive post at HSBC will initiate another succession process as Gulliver's old role - at the helm of the investment banking business - becomes available. Financial News takes a look at the likely candidates for the job.

Financial News spoke to bank analysts and industry headhunters to assess the likely contenders for the top job at HSBC's investment bank. Several pointed out that there were few obvious internal candidates for the role, though one noted that Gulliver was little-known in London before being appointed to the job in 2002.