Reports indicate that the board of HSBC Holdings PLC (00005) is divided over the selection of its next chairman. The leadership has struggled to reach consensus on certain candidates' qualifications, prompting reconsideration of previously rejected or declined nominees. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that former UK Chancellor George Osborne, initially excluded by the board, has now emerged as a strong contender. Other candidates previously considered as successors to outgoing Chairman Mark Tucker include Goldman Sachs executive Kevin Sneader, former HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver, and Petershill Partners Chairman Naguib Kheraj. HSBC stated that the appointment process remains ongoing, with updates to be announced "in due course."