Can you briefly tell the Center for Financial Professionals and the audience about yourself and your experience in the liquidity field?
I was Treasurer for Dexia US operations, managing the US, Mexico and Canada treasuries growing the bank’s balance sheet from $100 million to $70 billion AUM and $55 billion off-balance sheet liabilities, responsible for the Dexia’s global USD liquidity and interest rate risk management. Prior to Dexia, I was Treasurer of the National Bank of Kuwait US treasury, where I managed the bank’s asset and liabilities and trading activities.
I chaired the US Liquidity Contingency Committees for both Dexia and National Bank of Kuwait NY offices, navigating Dexia’s global USD liquidity management efforts during the crisis of 2008 – 2011 and National Bank of Kuwait’s efforts during the volatility of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. I also navigated China Construction Bank NY through the market stress resulting from the 2015 China stock market correction and RMB devaluation.
One of the many areas on liquidity risk professionals minds is the evolving regulatory landscape, how can risk professionals overcome the influx in the regulatory change?
Current evolving regulations require a forward thinking approach. It’s important to determine best practices by networking with peers and through attending conferences. Leverage this interaction to develop a thorough understanding of international and domestic best practices to manage the challenging evolving regulations.
Can you tell our readers where your focus lies as Head of Treasury at China Construction Bank and your main focus in such a busy time for liquidity professionals?
FIRST PRIORITY— Growing a more diverse and stable funding platform in the US
SECOND PRIORITY– Building a platform for CCBNY’s RMB business in the US. Appointed as Co-Chair of Bloomberg RMB Working Group Committees. I led the CCBNY’s efforts as Co-Chair of the Working Group’s Corporate Outreach and Create New Markets Committees, working in close cooperation with US corporate and financial institutions. The efforts of the working group led to the appointment of the first RMB clearing center in the US in 2016. We will continue to develop a RMB platform for US corporates.
To what extent are you seeing the impact of EPS across the industry and how are financial institutions overcoming structural changes?
I see continued progress on banks sourcing and competing for stable funding.
How do you foresee the industry evolving in the next 6-12 months, since the political and economic trends have recently changed?
Trump rolling back of DF is a game changer for the industry.
