PrimaDollar, an alternative trade finance provider, has recruited Guy Willans as chief operating officer.

He joins from TradeRiver, another UK-based alternative financier, where he was chief operating officer for two years. Prior to that, he was with HSBC for 10 years.

PrimaDollar was set up in 2015 and started trading at the end of 2016. The company provides trade finance solutions for exporters, primarily in emerging markets, who sell to creditworthy international buyers. Among other things, the firm arranges letters of credit and pre-shipment financing.

Commenting on the hire, PrimaDollar CEO Tim Nicolle says:

“We are really pleased that Guy has agreed to join the group. With the trade finance gap in emerging markets now estimated at over US$1.4tn and growing, exporters and importers both need new financial solutions. Meeting those needs and managing the scale-up of our platform is a big challenge, and Guy is undoubtedly one of the best.”