The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has hired Irfan Afzal as its director for syndications and agency – a newly-created position at the bank.

He will oversee Afreximbank’s loan syndication and distribution function as well as the agency and security trustee function. He will also support the origination of syndicated loan opportunities from large corporates and oversee the structuring of syndicated transactions.

“It makes sense if the bank is going to move forward with stepping up its capability and footprint that they are bringing syndications and agency together under one roof. My role is going to give that new entity a strategic direction and focus,” Afzal tells GTR.

“I’d like to see Afreximbank become the number one bank for syndications in Africa in the next couple of years,” he adds.

Afzal has spent close to 20 years in the origination, structuring, execution and distribution of syndicated loans. Before joining Afreximbank, Afzal held the position of executive director, head of debt capital market at Wimmer Financial, a UK-based international corporate advisory firm, since February 2015.

His other experience includes serving as vice-president, structured trade finance and advisory at Chase Manhattan Bank, London; vice-president and head of structured trade finance at ABN Amro Bank, Moscow; senior director, structured trade finance at American Express Bank; and head of energy, global trade finance group, at KBC Bank.

He will be based in Cairo.