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David Wightman is the new head of metals and mining at WestLB GSF Commodity Finance. He reports to Armin Eckermann, global head of commodity finance.

Wightman replaces Joep Kockmann who recently left the bank for UFJ in London (see GTR, Jan/Feb 2004, p14). Ian Henderson, who also left for UFJ recently, will be replaced in time, comments Wightman. He adds: “There are spaces in the department and we are looking at what responsibilities need to be filled.”

Wightman was previously a director at London-based African trade consultancy Africaxis, together with Paul Starling who also recently joined WestLB as regional head of African commodity finance. Africaxis will continue to develop its ideas for African structured finance under the management of Alan Purkiss and Andy Hodges.

Wightman is looking forward to settling into the job. A big draw for him, he says, is the fact that WestLB has such a strong reputation in trade and commodity finance. “At the core there are some very good people here,” he adds.