Guernsey Finance has appointed Zoë Cousens as its first ever Middle East representative.

Mrs Cousens relocated to the region at the start of September and will help to promote Guernsey's financial services industry in the Middle East and be an on-the-ground presence for Guernsey Finance.

Based in Dubai, she will act as the main point of contact for Middle Eastern firms and clients interested in Guernsey and will assist in hosting and arranging meetings, seminars or events for Guernsey businesses visiting the region.

Mrs Cousens will perform her Guernsey Finance duties on a part-time basis alongside heading up Castellet Consulting DWC LLC, a financial consultancy business she has established in one of Dubai's economic free zones to promote the range of Guernsey-based financial services available to Middle Eastern clients.

Guernsey Finance Chief Executive Dominic Wheatley said: "The creation of this role reflects the increasing focus on the Middle East region of many Guernsey businesses and forms part of our wider strategy internationally. Zoë is well known in the Guernsey finance environment and has a breadth of knowledge gained over the last 30 years working in the industry. This commitment to the region can only be seen as a positive for business prospects and the further development of Guernsey relationships in the Middle East."

Mrs Cousens has spent more than 30 years working in the financial services industry in Guernsey, London and Hong Kong across the investment, private wealth and funds sectors. Her experience in the Middle East includes sitting on the Board of an investment company in the Dubai International Finance Centre and attendance at a wide range of recent conferences and events in the region. She already has a well-established network of contacts there, which will be expanded upon as she represents Guernsey Finance in her new role.

Mrs Cousens said: "I am excited to have this opportunity and I look forward to being involved in Guernsey Finance's continued development in the Middle East. It's a dynamic region with sophisticated clients and I'm looking forward to meeting with potential clients and interested parties to explain the positives that Guernsey has to offer in order to ensure the Island remains positioned for future success."

For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.

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