Paragon Bank appoints Richard van Dort as head of business development vendor to drive SME lending growth
Paragon Bank’s SME Lending division today announces the appointment of Richard van Dort as head of business development vendor. The senior strategic hire underscores Paragon’s commitment to grow its vendors and direct proposition across the UK.
With over 30 years’ experience in asset finance and banking, van Dort has built an extensive network and held senior leadership roles shaping global vendor programmes and forging strategic, sustainable funding partnerships across the industry. At DLL, most recently he led the development of innovative funding products and strategies for global vendor and direct enterprise partners. In an earlier role at the company, established and grew the UK’s non-vendor direct funding market for key enterprise accounts. Prior to DLL, Richard held senior positions at GE Capital, overseeing the development of high-value vendor programmes and direct partnerships across industrial, transport and logistics, construction and materials handling sectors.
The appointment aligns with Paragon’s strategic focus to grow its vendor and direct channels, leveraging robust infrastructure, advanced technology and a strengthened credit appetite developed over the past year. This commitment to an agile, partnership-led approach – supported by digitalisation, competitive funding and deep asset management expertise – positions Paragon to accelerate growth across core sectors including intralogistics, materials handling, access equipment, waste, ports and terminals, aerial work platforms and more.
Richard will work alongside Terry Lloyd, head of vendor, combining their complementary skills and networks under one umbrella. While Richard will focus on business development and strategic growth, Terry will continue to drive operational excellence and execution through his team, with the dual leadership ensuring Paragon is well-positioned to deliver best-in-class service and accountability to its vendor partners.
Richard’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for the FTSE 250 lender, which now works with over 16,000 UK SMEs, as it marks 10 years of SME Lending and backing British business – evidenced by a fourfold increase in its loan book over the last decade.
Stewart Good, sales director of SME Lending, said: “This appointment is a clear statement of intent from Paragon SME Lending. Richard’s experience and expertise will bring huge value to our business, and his appointment represents a significant investment in our long-term ambitions to become the funder of choice for UK SMEs and vendors. We are ready to expand our direct capabilities, support SMEs on their growth journeys and maintain the highest standards of service as we continue to grow.”
Richard van Dort said: “I’ve watched Paragon’s growth and admired the team’s ambition for some time. The attraction of working with a UK-based funder with agility, talented people and a clear strategy and defined markets was a real draw for me. In this role I plan to grow a foothold across a range of sectors – waste, transport, healthcare, trailers, aviation and intralogistics to name a few – and to build sustainable, long-term partnerships based on trust and responsiveness.
“Now more than ever, customers want lenders that do what they say, offering flexibility and tailoring products suitable to their needs. Paragon truly delivers on that promise.”
The SME Lending division will continue to invest in talent and infrastructure, with further recruitment planned as Paragon navigates 2026, accelerates growth and delivers value to both partners and direct clients.