Top agriculture banker in shock resignation

HSBC head of agriculture Pat Tomlinson has resigned after little more than a year in the job.

Callers to Mr Tomlinson’s mobile phone on Monday (14 December) were greeted with a message informing them he had left the company.

An HSBC spokesman said it was the bank’s policy not to comment on individual situations.

He added Mr Tomlinson’s resignation was a personal matter and he had decided to pursue other opportunities.

Mr Tomlinson also declined to comment.

But a close friend confirmed to Farmers Weekly that his decision to resign had been entirely personal and was only reached after a great deal of soul-searching.

“It’s fair to say he’s been a loyal employee and he’s had a great career with HSBC but the time was right to move on.

“He’s got nothing immediate to go to but is keen to carry on his career in UK agriculture.”

Mr Tomlinson started his career as a farm management consultant in Derbyshire after obtaining a degree in agriculture from the University of Reading.

He joined HSBC in 1994 as an agricultural banking manager in Lincolnshire.

After being promoted to regional agriculture manager for the south-west, he became a divisional agriculture manager in 2004.

Mr Tomlinson was appointed HSBC agriculture director in 2006 before leaving for a brief spell as head of agriculture at Barclays Bank the following year.

He returned to become HSBC head of agriculture in 2008 following the departure of his former boss Steve Ellwood.