Board Member
Paul Coles
Director – Treasury, Orbian.
ITFA Board Member and Chair of the Market Practice Committee
Paul Coles is a seasoned professional with a dedicated focus on managing, developing, and enhancing Orbian’s funding relationships to support its innovative supply chain finance programs. With over 25 years of extensive experience in trade finance, Paul has established himself as a key figure in the industry, using his knowledge to drive strategic growth and strengthen financial partnerships.
Before joining Orbian, Paul oversaw transactional distribution activities at HSBC, vital to the success of the Global Trade and Receivables Finance business. His distinguished career also includes serving as the Global Coordinator and EMEA Head for trade risk distribution at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and as the Regional Head of Trade Asset Management at RBS NV, part of the legacy ABN AMRO network. His journey in the trade finance sector began at London Forfaiting Company, where he held various roles that laid the foundation for his subsequent successes.
Paul holds a BSc in Management Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. He is also an active member of the Board of the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA), where he chairs the Market Practice Committee, championing best practices and fostering collaboration within the trade finance community.