This Division was recently expanded to respond to an internal reorganisation that focusses on the characteristics of a transaction that UKEF has underwritten. I have extensive interaction internally with not only the Business Origination teams but also with the other core divisions within Risk Management including, Portfolio Management Division from which transactions are handed over when they are no longer performing. The role involves leading the teams who review, analyse, negotiate, and document complex restructurings both on the civil and aerospace portfolios, many of which include large scale sophisticated insolvency workouts (Chapter 11 or equivalent). These negotiations are prolonged, detailed, intensive and complex involving sophisticated counterparties who are very well represented and advised. The role involves liaising with and marshalling the policy position of the finance parties such as the borrower, banks (agents, trustee, and lenders) and external lawyers. The role involves the articulation and presentation of the finance party position in negotiation often in adversarial and hostile situations. The role demands an ability to reconcile commercial positions as well as to lead the negotiation and make decisions on the hoof. The role will also provide leadership, management, support and guidance for the Claims & Recoveries team and carries primary and direct accountability for the examination, admission of liability and authorisation of valid claims made on UKEF guarantees and policies of insurance. The role will also provide leadership, management, support and guidance for the Distressed Assets and Sovereign teams and the incumbent will articulate the policy positions across that portfolio to all internal and external stakeholders in a coherent and persuasive manner such as to engage and maintain the trust and confidence of Senior Management and external oversight such the Board and HMT.

I currently manage a team of 10. The team is responsible for managing UKEF’s portfolio medium- and long-term transactions once they have been underwritten. The team covers civil, infrastructure, oil & gas (including project finance cases), aerospace and defence. Post COVID pandemic the team have also had to manage several complex restructurings and in the airline sector we have been actively involved with a number of insolvent airlines as well as forbearance requests. My team liaise with numerous external stakeholders such as borrowers, exporters, Agent banks, Export Credit Agencies, and external counsel.

I have primary responsibility for post issue matters in UKEF medium /long term portfolio comprising buyer and supplier credits as well as Project Finance. I managed a small team currently covering aerospace, defence, civil, infrastructure and energy sectors.

Following bank's strategic announcement in February 2015 to reduce its international footprint, the ECA portfolio that sat within CIB was again deemed non strategic. Whilst we to manage the portfolio, it was also extensively marketed to number of institutions which resulted in a number of assets sales. The sale process requires the co-operation of the ECA's and I have developed a number of useful relationships with the ECA's both here in the UK and in Europe.

Having been responsible for the Bank's Non Core ECA portfolio from 2009 to 2013, I moved across with the remainder of the portfolio to join the ECA portfolio team within Capital & Portfolio Management in C&IB.In my current role I continue to manage the portfolio and support the ECA origination team across EMEA in new transactions.

During this period I worked in the Bank's Non Core Division managing an ECA portfolio of c. £5.9bn.The role was reduce this portfolio which involved a number of sales to Bank's and finding other ways to distribute assets such as insurance companies.In addition to the sales initiative, we had to manage the portfolio comprising of over 130 counterparties and around 250 facilities backed by a whole host of ECA providers.

My role was to oversee the Bank's STF portfolio, c. £2bn that was s a mix of Export Finance, Trade Receivables and Pre-Export Commodities Finance. Once the deal has been handed over by the origination team, it was my responsibility post execution to run with the transaction through to maturity. The role involved a lot of interaction with Middle office, particularly in relation to drawdowns under new ECA facilities, making sure that all documentation was in order before proceeding. If there were discrepancies we would reach out to the customer and liaise with the ECA (UKEF). The role also included preparing credit reviews and attending credit committees where appropriate. If there were subsequent amendments required to loan documentation then this was left to us to undertake and deal directly with both internal or external counsel and liaising with ECA's where appropriate.

I moved from parent bank to NatWest Markets/Greenwich NatWest, to join the STF origination team. During this time I originated transactions including an ECGD buyer credit for Ghana as well as a Note Purchase facility for South Korean Corporate. The role involved marketing to the bank's core corporate clients both in the UK and overseas. During this period I also spent a time on the Bank's Forfaiting unit with the responsibility of generating primary transactions, which could then be subsequently traded.

My role was to supervise a small team who supported the STF origination team, who marketed primarily to the bank's UK Corporate client base. The entire product range was marketed including Documentary Letters of Credit & Bonds & Guarantees as well as ECA. Support would range to writing client briefings to negotiating documentation. During this spell I supported one of the originators on an ECGD transaction in Israel which included direct negotiations with the overseas borrower. Other roles within RBS Group

I was responsible for a small team who supported correspondent bankers who marketed banks in the GCC (Gulf States). This varied role involved the preparation of credit reviews for these banks and also the monitoring of lines that were made available to them. I was also given responsibility for calling on the London branches of these banks.

First spell in the bank's Trade Finance area where I supported an originator with responsibility of marketing to the bank's UK clients. During this period I got involved in my first ever ECGD transaction including negotiating documents) for a project in Ethiopia which also involved Euler Hermes.

I worked in Correspondent Banking team undertaking various clerical support roles. The role involved the preparation of credit reviews for these banks and also the monitoring of lines that were made available. It also involved client meetings.

During this period I undertook various clerical roles in the Bank's International Banking Division, including spells in both Documentary Credits and Bond & Guarantees Department. I also spent a period of time working in the bank's Securities Department. On reflection these informative years where very important in terms of laying the foundations of my career path through RBS/NatWest group as they gave me a useful insight as to how a big organisation worked.