Standard Chartered Bank is strengthening its mining and metals offering in response to the recent high growth within this segment of the commodities sector. The bank has established a team of client relationship specialists and also expanded its commodity corporates, corporate finance and commodity research teams.

New York-based Karr McCurdy has been appointed as global head of commodity corporates – mining and metals to steer client relationship teams across Europe, Africa, Asia and Americas.

Karr has almost 30 years of international experience in the mining and metals sectors. Working first as an engineer and then as an advisor and financier, Karr has assisted companies and governments on developing and managing new and expanding projects globally.

Enhancing the bank’s regional capabilities, senior appointments have also been made to the commodity corporates team across the globe, including:

Douglas Strong, formerly Standard Chartered’s head of mining and metals, project and export finance has been appointed as managing director, regional head of commodity corporates, mining and metals for Europe and Africa, based in London.

Strong has over 19 years of international banking experience, 15 of which have been involved with mining and metals globally. He has been involved with project and structured financing, acquisition financing and bid advisory across precious and base metals.

Dan Miller has been appointed regional head of commodity corporates, Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. His 15 years experience in the mining and metals sector spans equity research and corporate banking.

Miller has worked closely with companies in the mining and metals sectors to assist them in major fund raising activities, acquisition finance, working capital needs, risk management strategies, and transactional banking needs.

Additional new hires have also been made in the Middle East, South Africa and New York to complete the global coverage model.

Maureen DeRooij, global head of commodity corporates at Standard Chartered says: “Mining and metals is one of our core sectors and we have an excellent track record of delivering practical solutions for clients operating, investing or trading across the bank’s geographies. This sector is experiencing a high growth phase, with increased demand from China and India impacting on prices and volumes. As more of our clients move from domestic to international sources for raw materials and production, Standard Chartered has the capability and in-market expertise to provide value-driven solutions.”

Complementing the specialised client industry and advisory team, Corporate Finance has appointed David Trafford as the Global Head of Mining and Metals, Project and Export Finance (PEF) based in London.

David Trafford has more than 20 years experience in the mining and metals sector, advising companies and governments on strategy, financing options, acquisitions and disposals in public and private transactions. Trafford’s experience spans base metals, precious metals, coal mining and bulk commodities working in the mining and metals industry and banking.  He has provided marketing for and executed mandates in across the globe, particularly in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Additional new PEF hires have also been made in China, Dubai and South Africa to complete the global coverage model.

Commenting on Trafford’s appointment, Will Rathvon, global head of project and export finance says: “The combination of strong client relationship coverage with our existing corporate finance skill set and added mining and metals expertise in Johannesburg and China will enable us to build further momentum in our mining and metals space in 2007. Under David’s stewardship we will do even more linking with our Standard Chartered partners to capitalise on our client’s growing needs in our regions and across the emerging trade flows leading to more award winning deals in the year ahead.”