HSBC has hired Citigroup veteran Curtis Tao as its U.S. general counsel, according to an internal memo shared with Law.com.

Tao will be based in New York and will report to U.S. CEO Michael Roberts and Chief Legal Officer Bob Hoyt. He also will join HSBC’s U.S. executive and group legal executive committees. In the memo sent to employees, Roberts and Hoyt said that Tao went through a thorough selection process and that they’re confident that his expertise and leadership will “greatly benefit” HSBC’s U.S. organization.