Lloyds Bank has hired Bhavna Saraf as head of trade product, global transaction banking. She replaces Clive Higglesden, who has retired.

Based in London, she reports to Gwynne Master, the bank’s head of trade, who joined the bank last year as it brought the previously separate FI and international businesses departments together.

Saraf joins Lloyds from Citi, where she was employed since 1998, most recently as Emea head of trade product, a role she held for six years. Her prior experience also includes a stint at Rabobank, and two years at HSBC as part of its graduate programme. She has also founded an intra-bank start-up that she progressed to seed three funding.

At Lloyds, she leads a team that drives the development of client-centric solutions that meet the domestic and international working capital needs of companies, leveraging her considerable experience in corporate and transactional banking. Saraf tells GTR that in her new role she will be influencing key stakeholders and contributing to broader strategic planning and business decision making by providing insight, control and thought leadership.