{"id":88799,"date":"2018-02-07T12:31:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T12:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=29819bb310dbb6a6b705a3ff09b2cb8f"},"modified":"2018-02-07T12:31:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T12:31:00","slug":"press-release-ukef-makes-senior-appointments-to-support-uks-export-ambitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=88799","title":{"rendered":"Press release: UKEF makes senior appointments to support UK&#8217;s export ambitions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>UK Export Finance (<abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>) has made 3 appointments to its senior management to enhance its capability and capacity to realise the ambitions set out in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/627794\/UK_Export_Finance_Business_Plan_2017-2020.PDF\">Business Plan for 2017-20<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Richard Simon-Lewis, Head of Origination, Client Coverage, Marketing and Communications<\/li>\n<li>Adam Harris, Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy<\/li>\n<li>Andy Blacksell, Head of Underwriting Policy and Products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>They will help <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr> implement its strategy to lead with finance, bring major international business opportunities to the UK and help UK companies better compete for business around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Additional recruitment into senior roles across <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s policy and operations divisions to build the department\u2019s capacity and expertise further is planned for the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>Louis Taylor, <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s Chief Executive Officer, welcomed Richard, Adam and Andy to their roles, saying:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">I am very pleased to announce these appointments into key positions as we look to deliver world-leading finance to help the UK\u2019s world-leading exporters grow their business internationally.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Richard, Adam and Andy will bring the expertise, creativity and ambition required to help <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr> realise its aim to be the best export credit agency in the world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"richard-simon-lewis-head-of-origination-client-coverage-marketing-and-communications\">Richard Simon-Lewis, Head of Origination, Client Coverage, Marketing and Communications<\/h2>\n<p>Richard will focus on seeking and securing global opportunities for UK exporters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>helping to connect UK capability with international demand<\/li>\n<li>raising awareness of <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s support among exporters and overseas buyers<\/li>\n<li>generating new business both at home and abroad<\/li>\n<li>helping to develop a new network of international advisers, to support <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s overseas activity across 20 different markets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Richard commented:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">In the last year, <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr> has enhanced its reputation as a world-leading export credit agency, from extending short-term finance to the UK supply chain, to expanding our overseas buyer finance to 62 local currencies. We are better placed than ever before to support UK exports.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">I want to ensure UK exporters and their buyers can realise the full benefits of that, and am excited to be leading <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s international drive to bring these major opportunities to the UK.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"adam-harris-head-of-civil-infrastructure-and-energy\">Adam Harris, Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy<\/h2>\n<p>Adam will manage and develop <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s growing team of 30 specialist underwriters, responsible for delivering and enhancing <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s support for the civil, infrastructure and energy sectors.<\/p>\n<p>Adam commented:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">I am delighted to be leading <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s civil, infrastructure and energy underwriting division at an exciting time for UK exports and international trade.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">By working closely with our customers and their overseas buyers, and growing our capacity to do ever more business in these vital sectors in which the UK is a recognised leader, we can help UK businesses thrive internationally.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"andy-blacksell-head-of-underwriting-policy-and-products\">Andy Blacksell, Head of Underwriting Policy and Products<\/h2>\n<p>Andy will focus on the development and delivery of products that UK exporters need to support them in making the most of trading internationally, with greater pace, efficiency and capacity.<\/p>\n<p>Andy commented:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\"><abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s offering must remain agile and adaptable, so I am excited to be able to take this role to ensure our product range continues to evolve in a way that is both evidence-based and, crucially, puts the needs of UK exporters first.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"background\">Background<\/h2>\n<p>Richard has over 25 years\u2019 experience in structured financing, heading up energy and infrastructure units at leading project and export institutions.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, he became <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy and led the division through a period of significant growth, as well as pioneering an innovative new \u2018supplier fair\u2019 model which has connected hundreds of UK companies with opportunities worth hundreds of millions on major international projects.<\/p>\n<p>Adam began his career in the Civil Service Fast Stream, gaining experience in a range of positions, including credit risk analysis at <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>, as well as policy at HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. He spent over five years in <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s aerospace underwriting division, before becoming Chief of Staff to Louis Taylor, <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr> Chief Executive, in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Andy has over 15 years\u2019 experience at <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>, spanning roles as a country policy officer for sub-Saharan Africa and an underwriter in <abbr title=\"UK Export Finance\">UKEF<\/abbr>\u2019s civil, aerospace and defence sector teams, as well as managing the department\u2019s transition through landmark changes to its governing statute in 2015.<\/p>\n<div class=\"contact \" id=\"contact_1093\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<h3>Media enquiries: Julia Beck, Strategic Communications Manager<\/h3>\n<div class=\"vcard contact-inner\">\n<div class=\"email-url-number\">\n<p class=\"email\">\n              <span class=\"type\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n              <a class=\"email\" href=\"mailto:julia.beck@ukexportfinance.gov.uk\">julia.beck@ukexportfinance.gov.uk<\/a>\n            <\/p>\n<p class=\"tel\">\n              <span class=\"type\">Telephone<\/span><br \/>\n              +44 (0)7791 797810\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The appointments will enhance UKEF&#8217;s senior capability as it prepares to bring more international business opportunities to the UK.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88799"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88799"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88821,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88799\/revisions\/88821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}