Richard Starsmeare, formerly head of commodity finance at British Arab Commercial Bank (BACB), has returned to the bank in a newly-created, strategic senior role.

As director of business development for Middle East and Asia, he is responsible for creating opportunities that are complimentary to facilitating trade in Africa and the Middle East.

Starsmeare worked in BACB’s commodity finance team from 2013 to October 2016, when he took up a role as head of trade and commodity finance at FIMBank. He held that role for nine months before now rejoining BACB in early July.

He has previously worked in a range of senior commodity finance positions at Zenith Bank, Bank Leumi, Absa Bank and RZB.

Based in London and Dubai, Starsmeare reports to Mohammed Usman, BACB’s chief representative officer for Middle East and Africa, who is based at the bank’s representative office in Dubai.