Bulut Bakla has joined Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe (SMBC) in London as a manager, trade finance and forfaiting, under global head, David Lilley.

Before joining SMBC, Bakla spent five years at Intesa Soditic Trade Finance in London. He was the senior trader of the team, primarily involved in the origination of trade finance and forfaiting assets from primary markets such as Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia..

Bakla’s other team mates are Samantha Boothman, David Ringer and Mark Donald.

“We operate as a typical trading desk, buying and selling various types of trade finance transactions (pure forfaiting deals as well as syndicated or bilateral loans), bearing a variety of country risks,” says Bakla. “The main focus is of course emerging market risk, and in line with current market trends the bank turns over quite a bit of Russian and CIS business originated through its own global network as well as from secondary markets.”

SMBC has been looking for an experienced trader for a while, says Bakla, and “I understand they chose me for my strong origination background”.

“Therefore I am expected to give a boost to primary asset origination from Central Asia and the Near East,” he adds. “Apart from the obvious target of improving Kazakh business I will be exploring the region with a view to identifying the next potential market(s). It is worth noting that although origination is going to be my main goal, I will also be 100% involved in buying and selling transactions in secondary markets.”