Standard Chartered poaches head of metals trading from Barclays

Standard Charted has hired Ben Corbould from Barclays Capital for a new position as head of metals trading in Asia, according to a statement yesterday. Corbould, who had the same title at Barclays, brings more than 10 years of experience as a metals trader -- both of the actual commodity and the derivatives version.

At Standard Chartered he will lead a team responsible for committing capital in the Asian metals market and will provide market expertise to the bank's customers. According to the statement, he will also work with Standard Chartered's specialist bankers to develop the bank's local operations in the region's metals markets. This will include growing the bank's activities on the Shanghai Gold Exchange and tapping opportunities for additional local exchange memberships.

He will be based in Singapore and will report to Jeremy East, Standard Chartered's global head of metals trading.

In a comment on the hire, East noted that the bank sees "great opportunities" to grow its metals franchise in Asia. Corbould's experience in Asia, and in China especially, "will be invaluable in helping us to achieve our aspiration to be the number one metals counterparty in our regional footprint", East added. Specifically, the new hire will allow the bank to enhance its product offering and enable it to work closer with its clients, he said.  

"Standard Chartered is a primary bank for many commodity corporates and an extension of the bank's risk taking capabilities in this time zone will serve these customers well," added Corbould in a comment of his own.

Prior to joining Barclays, Corbould worked as a metal derivatives trader at Macquarie bank in London, New York and Sydney.