(Adds context)
LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs said on
Tuesday it would open a new office in the English city of
Birmingham, expanding its office footprint in Britain at a time
when many rivals are reducing space due to the pandemic.
The bank said the first staff would begin working in the new
office in the third quarter of this year, with headcount growing
to several hundred over time.
Goldman said its engineering division would be the first to
base staff in Birmingham through a mix of hiring and transfers.
The U.S. banking giant's CEO David Solomon has been among
the most vocal company executives wanting to get staff back to
the office as soon as local virus restrictions allow, calling
remote working an "aberration" in February.
But other banks - including HSBC - have been quick
to target deep office cuts particularly in retail banking and
even move some staff to permanent home working.
"We see tremendous opportunity to enhance our UK presence
and continue delivering for our global clients," said Richard
Gnodde, chief executive officer for Goldman Sachs International.
(Reporting by Iain Withers
Editing by Tommy Wilkes)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)
