By Selena Li, Lawrence White and Sinead Cruise HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) -HSBC merged some operations and split its geographic footprint into East and West in a sweeping restructuring under new CEO Georges Elhedery that also included the appointment of the bank's first female finance chief.

HSBC has announced the appointment of its first female finance chief in the bank's 159-year history as its new boss shakes up the business. Pam Kaur has worked at the bank for more than a decade and is currently its chief risk and compliance officer.

Europe ’s biggest bank has unveiled an overhaul of its global structure in a shakeup to reduce costs. The new boss of HSBC Georges Elhedery has announced the changes to home in on the bank’s strongest divisions. The bank said it was simplifying by splitting up into four key units, and geographically into East and West.

As part of the re-organisation, HSBC also announced the first-ever female finance chief in the bank's 159-year history. Pam Kau, currently the chief risk and compliance officer, has worked for the bank for more than a decade.

HSBC has unveiled a significant restructuring of its business, which will see the global bank rearrange itself along geographical lines and under four operational units instead of the current three. The bank is simplifying its global structure,