Mike Cooke

Mike Cooke – IFT Accredited Member 

Mike has a career in banking and consulting spanning over 34 years predominantly in Risk with an expertise in recovery / restructuring. Mike has experience across all industries and has worked in over 40 countries, covering both developed and emerging markets. Mike’s strength is in complex situations where creative solutions need to be found.

Having started his career with Barclays Bank and after 10 years, Mike moved to Standard Bank in 1996 to take up the position of Deputy Head of Credit in London. In his 18 years with Standard Bank, Mike held a number of senior positions in the Risk Department, leading teams focussed on live, restructuring and recovery portfolios. From 2006 to 2012 Mike was the Global Head of Restructuring & Recovery for Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking Division, managing a global team in excess of 60 people with a combined portfolio value in excess of US$4 billion covering the full range of debt products and derivatives. 

Mike was also a voting member of most senior Risk Committees including the Risk Executive Committee and the Credit Committee for the Investment Bank, where he also acted as alternative Chair. Mike has also held a board position in an African based infrastructure fund for Standard Bank and represented creditor’s interests on boards of private companies as part of distressed restructurings.

Subsequently at Standard Chartered Bank, Mike was Group Special Asset Management (GSAM) Head, Europe and Americas Region and Global Head Structured Solutions and Advisory, tasked with finding market based solutions for large corporate clients in distress, in addition to running the restructuring and recovery team in Europe and Americas - a portfolio in excess of US$3 billion.

Mike has worked as a private consultant specialising in debt recovery / restructuring where he has represented lenders, borrowers and taken board positions. Mike is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, a Member of the Institute for Turnaround.