BAFT has a new head of trade, and he comes from outside the banks. Alexander Malaket succeeds Craig Weeks, who has retired after 43 years in the industry. Weeks held senior leadership roles at global banks, insurance companies and trading companies.
Malaket will lead BAFT’s trade policy, practices and education work and support its trade councils and committees. He will work with industry stakeholders to define best practices and shape policy recommendations on trade and supply chain finance.
He founded Opus Advisory Services and has more than 35 years in banking and consulting across trade, supply chain, trade financing, trade development and sustainability. His policy work has involved global and local policymakers, and he has worked with leading banks, export credit agencies and multilateral institutions in over 40 countries. He has served on several boards, advisory bodies and task forces. He wrote “Financing Trade and International Supply Chains” (Taylor & Francis UK, 2014), plus several white papers and guidance documents. His degree is in economics and political science from the University of Toronto, and he holds the Certified Trade Finance Professional designation from ICC Academy and a board designation in ESG and sustainability from Competent Boards, Toronto.
“Alexander is a great addition to BAFT,” said Tod Burwell, BAFT President and CEO. He said Malaket “has extensive policy engagement experience and has worked with organizations across the globe.” Of Weeks, he said: “We are going to miss Craig.”
BAFT describes itself as “the leading global industry association for international transaction banking,” with issue areas that include trade finance, payments and compliance.
Digital Trade Outlook’s View: A Policy Voice for Paperless Trade
The role is defined by policy and best practice, and the industry has plenty of open questions. Governments are pushing digital trade documentation, digital letters of credit are gaining ground and interoperability is a growing challenge. We would expect Malaket’s early work to touch some of these, and his sustainability credentials suggest that theme too.
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