I joined Crédit Agricole CIB’s Power EMEAEurope, the Middle East and Africa team, part of the Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Power division, at the end of 2007. Previously, I worked in project finance at another French bank. I enjoy working in this team because our position as market leader gives us the chance to handle major deals with important clients from the power market. Crédit Agricole CIB is considered by both clients and the market in general as one of the top tier banks in this field.

There are rarely two days the same. You need a fairly broad range of skills to work in project finance. When structuring financing deals we generally have to fulfill two main objectives: keep the client happy, and keep the Bank happy in terms of risk and profitability. Structuring a typical deal is often a long process, with several phases: marketing and origination, negotiating the contract, allocating the project’s various risks among the stakeholders involved, identifying finance sources, execution, involving detailed assessment of all the project’s financial ramifications, and due diligence, for which we work with external consultants (lawyers, technical experts, insurance experts, etc.). As for our advisory function, our main goal is to help the client to arrange the “best” financing possible. The challenges here are obviously not the same as for a financing role, so we have to adopt a different approach.

A combination of discipline and business sense, plus a sense of humility. You have to be able to think and respond quickly but you also need to know how to stand firm under pressure in order to make the right decisions. And in times of financial crisis you also need to be innovative to come up with appropriate solutions. Lastly, you need to know the sector well and also be familiar with the Bank’s other products that may be relevant.

Great deals, interesting clients, a wide range of assignments, and the opportunity to work with, and alongside recognised, sector experts.