Banca Românească CFO replaces Ionut Costea as head of Romanian state owned EximBank

Traian Halalai, deputy general manager and CFO of Banca Românească is to be appointed as EximBank's Executive Chairman, replacing Ionut Costea. Traditionally, leadership of Eximbank is determined based on policy options, and the current change under discussion is no exception. However, in recent years politicians have encouraged both CEC Bank and Eximbank to appoint leaders with relevant banking experience and awareness of the orientation and pressures coming from BNR. Deputy Paul Ichim will retain his position in the new management structure. Ichim served as Secretary of State for Treasury at the time of Adrian Nastase’s government and is considered still to be close to the Social Democrat Party (PSD). Traian Halalai, aged 42, has 17 years experience in the banking system and before working with Banca Românească, part of the National Bank of Greece Group, was CFO of ING Bank. He graduated from the Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accounting from ASE Bucharest and has an MBA in finance and marketing. EximBank is a state-owned bank that offers financing, guarantees and insurance for companies with export activities and small and medium companies, among others. The Ministry of Finance owns 95.374 percent of the bank and the remaining shares belong to the five financial investment companies (SIF) SIF Banat Crisana - 0.311 percent, SIF Moldova - 0.311percent, SIF Transilvania - 0.311 percent, SIF Muntenia - 0.423 percent, SIF Oltenia - 3.270percent. IoanaToader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com photo source: banca-romaneasca.ro