Standard Chartered has strengthened its project and export finance (PEF) team, with the appointment of five key executives. These appointments will strengthen Standard Chartered’s strategy to grow its PEF business in Asia and Africa.

William Rathvon, Standard Chartered’s global head of project and export finance, says: “We ‘re hiring top industry experts to further build our franchise and extend our leadership position in Asia, Middle East and Africa. They each bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise, and will strengthen our servicing capabilities, to better meet clients “needs.”

Rob Tims has been appointed director and will be part of the global oil and gas industry team in London. His appointment will add to the momentum of the bank’s efforts in the global oil and gas industry, in addition to tapping into the opportunities in Africa.

Before this appointment, Tims spent five years at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, where he worked on high-profile debt advisory transactions in the oil and gas sectors.

Tims, who is a specialist in the energy sector, also worked with various investment and finance companies providing corporate and project finance, and mergers and acquisitions expertise to clients.

Bob Johnson joins the project finance team in Hong Kong as managing director. He was previously with SG Asia where he originated, structured, and advised on structured debt financings across different industries in Asia, including the LNG, refining and petrochemical industries.

Johnson has over 20 years of experience primarily in project finance and related experience with other financial institutions and industry players. He will focus on the bank’s business in North Asia and Asia.

Dung Ho has joined as director and is based in Singapore. Dung joins from ABN Amro in Singapore, where he worked on project finance and advisory, acquisition finance, and debt structuring for power and utility transactions in Asia.

He has over 10 years experience and has led on many well-known power transactions in Asia. Before banking, Dung worked in the power industry for seven years. He will add transactional leadership and origination for power-related transactions in Asia Pacific.

Suk Hyun (Steve) Kim recently joined as associate director, based in Singapore. Kim spent over five years in ABN Amro, where he worked on structured financing in project advisory, project finance, and leverage finance in various industries in Southeast Asia and North Asia.

Finally, Chris Ang joins as an associate in the Singapore office from ABN Amro where he spent several years. Before ABN, he spent several years with a Singapore water development company. Ang brings an engineering background and analytical expertise to the Asia-based project and export finance team.