INTERVIEW-RBS Asia CEO says back in the game, seeks China JV

HONG KONG, Oct 28 - The Asia-Pacific operations of Royal Bank of Scotland are "eating the lunch" of competitors, hiring within derivatives and trading groups and engaged in talks to strike a securities joint venture in China, according to the bank's regional CEO.

RBS, 70 percent owned by the UK government after last year's bailout, is selling its retail and commercial banking business in Asia, shrinking its presence across the region and reducing lending to clients.

Nevertheless, APAC CEO John McCormick told Reuters on Wednesday that the bank was back in business, hiring across several divisions and focusing on top corporate clients in the region.

McCormick would not disclose details of the sale of the remaining retail and commercial units in Asia, saying only that HSBC "might be" in the lead to acquire the assets.

"Some of our colleagues in other banks are trying to box RBS. Why? Because we're a right royal pain in the backside. We're up in their face eating their lunch," McCormick said. "We were never out of the game, but if there was every any doubt, we are bloody well back in it. And we are hunting these people down."