Meyer advises clients across the commodity value chain, including investors, producers, traders, processors and financial institutions in multiple jurisdictions. His areas of specialisation include structured trade and commodity finance, agricultural finance, acquisition finance, senior debt lending, syndicated lending and cross-border financing.

He was previously head of legal and compliance at Standard Chartered Bank Africa in the United Arab Emirates. His experience includes advising on structured finance transactions in multiple jurisdictions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and managing legal and regulatory risk for domestic and multinational financial service providers.

Stephne Hamilton

ALLPAY, the payments subsidiary of Absa, has appointed Stephne Hamilton as its chief financial officer. With more than 13 years' financial management experience, Hamilton's focus will primarily entail managing the financial performance of AllPay.

Before joining AllPay, Hamilton, a chartered accountant, held senior positions at Absa Unsecured Lending, Absa Group Finance and Morgan Stanley and Arthur Andersen in the UK.

"Hamilton's incisive financial understanding will enhance a results-driven team that manages social grants in excess of R19.2-billion," said AllPay MD, Edmund Jeneker.

Franco Feris

SANTAM, the short-term insurer, has appointed Franco Feris as chief executive officer of Santam Namibia Limited, effective from January 1 2012.

Feris holds a BCom (accounting and economics) from the University of Namibia and a Senior Management Development Programme qualification from the University of Stellenbosch.

He was awarded the prize for the best student of the faculty of economics and management science in 1998 by the University of Namibia.

In his new position he will monitor growth and profit ; build and retain relationships with clients; manage risks and compliance and oversee the overall operations of the company.

He will report to the board of directors and also serve on the Namibia Insurance Association Committee (NIA).

Feris has served as the company's chief operational officer for four years.

Lisa Larsen

WINGS Travel Management, a global travel management company, has appointed Lisa Larsen director of technology.

Larsen, who is based in Houston in the US, joins Wings Travel Management after her departure from Carlson Wagonlit, where she was the head of the technology for the energy services division and responsible for software development and solutions architecture.

"We are excited to welcome Lisa Larsen to the global Wings team.

"Her depth of experience and knowledge in developing company processes, standards and establishing best practice within the oil and gas industry makes her the ideal candidate for the position of director of technology," said Tony Sofianos, the group CEO at Wings Travel Management.