Heidi Ashley-Smith

Mentor since 2019

Heidi heads up the press office at HSBC. She leads a global team and advises senior leadership on reputation management and crisis communications. She is also responsible for the development and execution of effective proactive and reactive media relations. Heidi is a key adviser to HSBC’s Group Chairman, Group CEO and other senior management. She previously led a communications team within HSBC’s investment bank advising on both internal and external communications. Heidi joined HSBC from the UK’s financial regulator, the FSA, where she worked in a variety of communications roles including 5-years in the press office during the financial crisis and prior to that working for the MD on strategic and change communications as well as event management. Heidi is an experienced coach and mentor and mentors a number of colleagues both formally and informally throughout the organisation.