Experienced sustainable finance specialist Matthew Swain has joined APS Bank plc as Senior Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Manager, he announced on Tuesday.

As a result, Mr Swain has left HSBC after 17 years, during which he served in numerous roles within its London and Birmingham offices, including Senior Sustainability Business Development Manager for more than four years and Risk Manager in Global Sustainability Risk for over nine years.

“I will forever be grateful for the support, encouragement, and experience provided from colleagues across HSBC not least in the opportunity to shape my passion into a career by specialising in sustainable finance and ESG risk,” he said.

“I have met some incredible people, companies, universities, business leaders, NGOs as well as social and environmental pioneers along the way, and formed some special friendships,” Mr Swain continued. Calling his time in the UK a “lifetime experience”, he added that it was a “privilege” to live and work there.

He added that London is where he met his wife, welcomed his son Max, furthered his academic studies, as well as “forged a career in sustainability in the banking sector,” suspecting that a part of him “will always remain there”.

Mr Swain concluded by announcing his new venture at APS Bank, looking forward to “being part of this great organisation and helping to further shape its future ESG ambitions”.

APS Bank was established in Malta in 1910, and since then has become well known for its ethical banking tradition as well as its corporate social responsibility practices that support Maltese culture, art, and a number of charitable causes.