UK Export Finance (UKEF) has today announced Samir Parkash has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He takes over from Louis Taylor who has joined the British Business Bank.
Samir has served as UKEF's Chief Risk Officer since 2018 and has over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector. He will serve as interim CEO while the appointment process for a permanent CEO is underway.
Samir Parkash, interim CEO at UKEF said:
I'm honoured and delighted to take on the role as interim CEO and lead a department that grows the economy, supports jobs, and strengthens international trade. UKEF has had an excellent performance in recent years. Our guarantees, insurance and lending make more exports possible. I look forward to continuing to put UKEF at the forefront of the government's plan to boost businesses and the economy.
The range of support available to exporters from UK Export Finance ensures that access to finance and insurance is available to UK exporters with ambitions to grow overseas.
In the last financial year, UKEF issued £7.4 billion in support of UK exports. This put money into people's pockets and provided job security for British workers, growing the UK economy by £4.3 billion (GVA) and supporting an estimated 72,000 UK jobs.
James Bowler, Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade said:
Samir will provide both incredible expertise and continuity in this interim period. I am grateful he has stepped up to ensure UKEF remains focused on delivering the world-class service it is internationally renowned for.
