Standard Bank has taken on Ewa Gracey as director, loan syndication and sales.

Reporting directly to Mark Vincent, in her new role Gracey will be responsible for distribution across a range of industry groups and investor bases in the Middle East, Africa and Western Europe.

Gracey has more than two decades’ experience in debt capital markets, with expertise in a range of products including distressed debt, securitisation, bonds, loans, sukuks and Islamic financing.

She joins the bank from Gatehouse Bank, where she formed and headed the placement team for shariah-compliant capital markets, among other things.

Gracey also spent over 10 years at WestLB, where she was involved in a number of capital market roles.

Speaking to GTR, Gracey says: “I am absolutely thrilled about the move to Standard Bank, a key emerging market bank. For me it is like a dream come true. Also, there is a slightly new geographic focus for me, which is very exciting.

“In the past I have worked with a lot of Middle Eastern clients, conventional as well as shariah compliant, so I am bringing that to the table, and Africa, although it is budding, is very important from an Islamic finance point of view and I am hoping to help Standard Bank develop that as well.”

John O’Mulloy, who is temporarily heading up the team in Mark Vincent’s absence, adds: “We will continue to invest in coverage of structured emerging markets credit distribution, and Ewa’s experience will supplement our existing setup.”