Before joining HSBC in January 2016, Stewart worked in the public sector for over 20 years. He held a number of posts for HM Treasury (HMT), including six years in Brussels focussing on EU financial regulation. Returning to London he led European Strategy in HMT, working on the renegotiation of the Lisbon Treaty, and the UK’s 2005 Presidency of the EU; and subsequently establishing a Financial Services Strategy Team focussed on developments in global finance. In 2008, Stewart was based in Washington DC, representing the UK Government on the board of the World Bank Group as Alternate Executive Director. This was followed by a spell at the Bank of England where he acted as Governor Mark Carney’s Financial Stability Board (FSB) Sherpa, establishing a team to support the Governor in his role as FSB Chair.

Stewart transferred to Hong Kong to become Head of Group Public Affairs, Asia Pacific, in February 2018. He leads Group Public Affairs in the region, working with the existing public policy teams in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.