(Reuters) - UK-headquartered HSBC Holdings' ( HSBC ) board has appointed headhunters to start the recruitment of its next chairman to succeed Mark Tucker, Sky News reported on Saturday.

The London-listed, Asia-focused bank will consider both existing non-executive directors and outsiders to succeed Tucker, the report said, citing sources.

The bank has appointed headhunters including MWM Consulting to run the process, the report added.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Tucker joined Europe's biggest bank from Hong Kong-based insurer AIA in March 2017, when HSBC ( HSBC ) broke tradition by choosing an outsider to replace veteran Douglas Flint.