Flockhart, who will also retire as a director of HSBC Bank Middle East on that same date, had a long career with HSBC including CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and president and group managing director with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean.
He also served as CEO in Mexico, managing director in Saudi Arabia, CEO in Thailand and chairman of HSBC Malaysia, the statement to shareholders also stated.
Douglas Flint, group chairman, said: "We are extremely grateful to Sandy for his dedicated and loyal service to HSBC over 37 years including the last four years on the HSBC holdings board and wish him well for the future, particularly in his continuing fight against cancer."