Two former senior export finance bankers have formed an advisory firm to help companies and projects secure support from export credit agencies.

André Gazal (pictured), until recently global head of export finance at Crédit Agricole, and Michiel de Vries, previously global head of structured export finance at ING, announced the creation of GlobalEx Advisors earlier this month.

The firm’s website says it is “focused on bringing strategic value through bespoke independent advice on optimising financing solutions”.

Gazal told GTR the advisory will not aim to arrange deals but will instead look“to provide strategic advice in raising export credit agency (ECA) and/or multilateral institutions financing” as well as advising “borrowers who are either newcomers to this world” or are “looking at complex situations requiring independent advice”.

The advisory will target borrowers, including sovereigns, exporters, contractors and developers, seeking ECA or multilateral agency support for projects.

In addition, Gazal said the pair are “also keen to accompany ECAs which may not have sufficient resources, or wish to have an independent view, regarding the potential rolling out of new products or strategies”.

Gazal, whose career in banking began in 1986 at Bank of Montreal, retired from Crédit Agricole in January this year after being with the lender since 2005.

De Vries ended a 33-year stint at ING in October 2024, after serving in various corporate banking, trade finance and export finance roles. He is also a supervisory board member at German trade finance-focused lender AKA Bank, and an advisory board member of Acre Impact Capital.