Bermuda is well placed to come through the woes affecting the global economy relatively unscathed.

That is the view of the newly unveiled president and chief executive officer of Capital G Bank, John Kephart.

Mr. Kephart, who took over the job last November, said the effects of the US sub-prime mortgage crisis, the credit crunch and market volatility would probably have less of an impact here than most parts of the world.

"It depends how it impacts on the two main pillars of the economy - tourism and international business," Mr. Kephart said yesterday.

"It might mean a few less visitors in tourism and a little less services business in international business. So you might see the Bermuda graph levelling off instead of continuing to climb, but I don't think you'll see a steep decline."

American Mr. Kephart has arrived at Capital G on the back of a 35-year banking career in the US, where he was most recently a senior vice-president at Washington First International Bank in Seattle.

The Capital G job appealed to him because he believes the Bank is "customer-centric".

"Since I arrived here, that's been confirmed," Mr. Kephart said, adding that staff were focused on meeting clients' specific needs.

"When you walk through the Bank, people will stop you and have a conversation. So I can see there is a direct connection between the client and executive management," he added. The Bank has been seeking the right candidate for the job since last June, when Stephen Freeman resigned for personal reasons after four months in the job after he succeeded Sarah Farrington.

Capital G Bank chairman James Gibbons said: "Mr. Kephart has a wealth of experience in the establishment of bank systems, infrastructure development and compliance regulations.

"His strategic insight and diverse banking knowledge will prove beneficial to capital G in its continued quest to evolve and mature as a first-class financial institution.

"Competition in Bermuda remains high and we are pleased that Mr. Kephart has accepted the challenge to assist us in expanding our product and service offering, while maintaining Capital G's core principle of being friendly, honest and fair."

Capital G is challenging the might of the Island's two biggest banks, HSBC Bank of Bermuda and Butterfield Bank, and aims to portray itself as being customer-driven and providing simple and uncomplicated banking services.

A keen cyclist, Mr. Kephart also has a track record of involvement in community causes. In Seattle, he served on the board of Athletes for a Better World, an organisation based on raising standards of conduct in sport.

Mr. Kephart spent 16 years with Rainier National Bank in Seattle, and Rainier International Bank in Los Angeles; 14 years with The Commerce Bank of Washington (a bank he helped organise and start), and with Foundation Bank and then Washington First International Bank in the Seattle area.