The Business Money team

Sophie Grove 
Managing Director 

Sophie spent the early part of her career in both the law and insurance industries before joining Business Money in 2001. Long the backbone of the business, she has progressed her skills in both publishing, social media, marketing and management skills. In 2016 she was appointed managing director, Business Money Promotions Limited.

She is responsible for developing the face of Business Money in an ever-changing world of media and is responsible for this new website. An accomplished horsewoman with success in eventing and dressage, she now focuses her attention on dog agility and she and her rescue Jack Russell Terrier Woody were a key element is securing the Small Dog Agility Relay Team win at Crufts in 2018.

Bob Lefroy
Group Editor 

Robert Lefroy enjoyed 25 years with Lloyds Bank, much of it as a front-line commercial banker. In 1987 he was appointed regional director for the south west and Wales with Canadian owned, Royal Trust Bank. In 1990 he opened a corporate finance boutique in Bristol and in 1993 he launched Business Money, winning a review in Financial Times and five subsequent personal short-listings under the Business Journalist of the Year Awards before being invited to become a judge.

He has exercised a key role in significant industry transactions, including the acquisition by Metro Bank of SME Invoice Finance and has travelled the world, addressing conferences for IFG, and FCI since 2006. Robert is a Fellow of The London Institute of Banking and Finance and a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists. He enjoys music, especially opera, rugby, reading, fine wine and good company.

Iris Lefroy
Subscriptions Director 

Iris Lefroy pursued an early career in financial services with Anglia Building Society in Buckinghamshire. She moved to London in a marketing role with the Rothman Group with responsibility for its premium Dunhill brand and Olympia Horse Show which it sponsored. An unhappy first marriage saw her in Somerset with three children under five to raise while supporting the activities of Ladies Circle, rising to become Area Chairman, running the local Brownie Pack and supporting her three children in Pony Club activities.

In 1994, she joined Business Money as subscriptions director, marrying Robert Lefroy in 1995 and travelled the industry global, conference circuit with him, playing an essential part in the spouse tours, significant for their networking role among the many delegates.

Matthew Smith
Editor 

A degree-qualified journalist, Matthew started his career as a reporter for local newspapers, eventually becoming a sub-editor based in Bath. He began work at Business Money in 2011, where his responsibilities include designing and editing all the pages of the magazine every month, as well as sourcing feature material and compiling the digital edition.

Promotion to editor followed as he undertook more responsibility, nurturing relationships with contributors, printers and playing a full role in developing the Business Money range.

Matthew enjoys films and has recently undertaken a project of his own, ensuring that the history of video games and their accompanying music is remembered in a compilation album.