Secure Trust appoints new portfolio and structuring director

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has announced the appointment of Graham Brew as a portfolio & structuring director based in its Manchester office.

Graham will be responsible for supporting existing clients in the North West, as well as driving new deal origination for the firm’s suite of alternative finance products.

Graham joins Secure Trust Bank from Barclays, where he spent 32 years across a variety of roles. Most recently, Graham held the position of large corporate trade and working capital relationship director, where he was responsible for the risk management and operation of working capital facilities across a portfolio of more than 20 corporate clients.

In addition to working across Barclays offices in the North West, Graham spent more than 20 years in a flexible working environment, the benefits of which are currently being reaped as all businesses and employees adapt to ensure high levels and continuity of service for clients.

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance provides a full-suite of flexible asset-based lending and invoice finance products, ranging in size from £1m to £50m, to small and medium sized businesses.

Established in Manchester in 2014, the lender now operates sites in Leeds, Birmingham and London to offer a truly national service. In its latest annual results, the firm revealed that its lending balances increased 29.3% to £251.7m in 2019, up from £194.7m in the previous year. Secure Trust Bank is now one of the top 10 independent operators in the asset-based lending market.

Graham Brew, portfolio & structuring director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, said: “Secure Trust Bank provides a dynamic and fast-moving environment, and a new challenge that I am extremely excited to be taking on. This is an ambitious and rapidly growing business that has built a reputation for thinking outside the box in seeking bespoke solutions to some of the more interesting transactions in the market. I’m looking forward to working closely with the team in the North West and supporting our clients through this challenging time.”

Paul Johnston, regional managing director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, said: “Graham has gathered an enormous amount of corporate experience during more than 30 years at Barclays, and will be a valuable addition to our team in Manchester. As companies continue to be resilient, Graham will provide much needed financial and business support to help our clients through this uncertain time, and will help us play a key role in delivering growth as markets begin to re-emerge.”

Leumi UK appoints George Evans as new chief operating officer

London-based subsidiary of Israel’s leading international bank appoints new chief operating officer as business expansion continues.

George has a proven track record of effectively engaging staff in the adoption of new technology and practices to drive business transformation. At Leumi UK, he will be responsible for helping to streamline the bank’s processes and supporting the team in the implementation of technology improvement plans, building on an already high, solutions-driven standard of service.

George started his career in financial services at Barclays Capital, where he spent four years as associate director in the financial markets division. Most recently, he held the position of head of operations, IT and change at Europe Arab Bank (EAB). His career at EAB spanned 13 years, covering business development, strategy, operating model design, business transformation and operational management across corporate and private banking. Prior to joining the industry, George served as a fighter pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Commenting on the appointment, Gil Karni, CEO at Leumi UK, says: “We are delighted that George has joined us as chief operating officer and trust that his extensive experience will be a great asset to the business. His appointment significantly contributes towards our longer-term plans to strengthen an already highly-focused team – while maintaining the high standard of service that defines the bank today.”

George adds: “The opportunity to join the well-respected team at Leumi UK is very exciting. We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation and I look forward to working with a strong leadership team to manage these new challenges and to maintain focus on delivering the bank’s strategic growth objectives.”

Finance For Enterprise appoints a new managing director

The appointment of Andrew Austwick forms part of the company’s business succession plans following a period where he worked alongside his predecessor, Arthur Foreman, which saw the business lending provider enjoy significant growth.

In the last eighteen months, the not-for-profit lending provider completed the purchase of new premises to act as the company’s headquarters, secured £15m additional capital from Big Society Capital and Triodos Bank to support loans to the region’s businesses, and extended its coverage to businesses operating in the Humber region and in Lincolnshire.

Finance For Enterprise provides a vital lifeline to SMEs throughout the region who are unable to access finance from traditional lenders. Over the twelve months prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Finance For Enterprise provided over £10m of loans which helped businesses add more than £55m to the regional economy. This capital has also enabled established businesses to create or safeguard almost 1,100 jobs, as well as helping ambitious entrepreneurs to create new enterprises.

Today, Finance For Enterprise, which celebrates its 35th anniversary next month, is responsible for overseeing a range of lending packages, acting as a delivery partner for the British Business Bank’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Start Up Loans UK and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). It also delivers Community Investment loans utilising funds provided by Big Society Capital and Triodos Bank UK Ltd.

Andrew joined Finance for Enterprise in 2013, initially as an investment manager, after spending much of his career working in the commercial banking sector. Since that time, Andrew has rapidly risen through the ranks of the not-for-profit lender, playing a key role in managing a number of loan funds as well as working alongside Arthur on the strategic development of the company.

Andrew Austwick, managing director of Finance For Enterprise, said:

“The financial support we provide acts as a lifeline for SMEs who are unable to access lending from high street banks. We have always looked beyond historic financial performance and seek to support viable businesses which have a clear vision and direction. The impact of our support includes additional jobs, a more buoyant SME sector and a stronger regional economy.

“I’ve learned a lot during my time working alongside Arthur. Although he is stepping down from his role as MD, he is remaining on the board and will continue to play an important role within the organisation as a director of the company.

“Finance For Enterprise has invested in excess of £50m into SMEs in the last 10 years, and since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March, we have acted swiftly to support many businesses which have been affected by the pandemic through no fault of their own.

“2020 has been a very eventful year so far, but I’m keen to ensure that SMEs throughout the region can access the right help at the right time, enabling them to look forward to a brighter future, post coronavirus.”

Arthur Foreman, outgoing managing director said:

“Andrew’s appointment forms a key part of our long-term succession plans and it’s fitting that it comes in a year which sees Finance For Enterprise celebrate its 35th anniversary and at a time when the organisation is continuing to extend its coverage as a key regional finance provider.

“With Andrew as MD, Finance For Enterprise has the right leadership and direction to continue to develop and further enhance its impact. As I step down from my current role, I am totally confident that the future of the organisation is in safe hands and I wish Andrew every success.”

BREAL Zeta appoints risk director in latest high profile move

BREAL Zeta, the UK asset based lending specialist, today announces the appointment of Kevin Yates as risk director, the latest of a string of key appointments. Kevin will be responsible for BREAL Zeta’s risk management framework and for building on the existing culture of strong risk identification and oversight, challenge and mitigation as the company continues to drive its plans to deliver larger and more complex transactions.

This new high profile appointment comes days after the announcement that Robert Wakeford has joined the business as managing director, UK Sales.

Kevin also joins BREAL Zeta from Leumi ABL, where he was director of risk & compliance. A board director and senior manager with over twenty years’ experience in asset based lending, Kevin’s expertise in risk, credit, relationship management, operations and compliance is complemented by his experience of managing people, process, stakeholders and projects. He has a detailed working knowledge of varied multi-jurisdictional financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions. Kevin has been awarded the International Compliance Association Diploma in International Anti-Money Laundering.

Prior to joining Leumi ABL in 2009, Kevin has held leadership roles at GE Commercial Finance and Landsbanki Commercial Finance where he worked closely with the directors of BREAL Zeta.

Kevin Yates, risk director, BREAL Zeta, said, “I feel delighted and privileged to be reunited with colleagues whom I’ve known and respected for over 20 years. The strong appeal of working with the existing team and building a portfolio together with Rob Wakeford is particularly exciting for all of us. We want BREAL Zeta to become known as the place where debt advisory and private equity businesses go in order to have deals delivered. When you move outside typical market structures towards larger and more complex transactions, the competition remains robust but the requirement for intellectual rigour is heightened.”

Commenting on the appointment, Brent Osborne, CEO, said: “The dual appointments of Kevin Yates and Robert Wakeford, this month, is a real coup for BREAL Zeta. With decades of ABL experience and an outstanding track record in risk management and compliance, Kevin is a superb addition to our team. For Risk to get involved at the coal face with deals, which Kevin embraces, is an incredibly important aspect of the entrepreneurial culture we foster and results in pragmatic and creative solutions, founded on sound risk analysis and core principles. This enables us to match our pioneering resolve, with enhanced resilience as we continue to drive our ambitious agenda for growth.”

BREAL Zeta appoints Robert Wakeford as managing director, UK sales

Asset based lending specialist, BREAL Zeta, has appointed Robert Wakeford to the new position of managing director, UK Sales, the company announced today. BREAL Zeta provides flexible facilities up to a £150m maximum hold.

Robert will lead the company’s commercial and marketing activity as the team intensifies its focus on supporting the funding needs of UK SMEs, with increasingly large and complex transactions.

Robert has worked at Leumi ABL for the last 10 years. In this role, he was responsible for sourcing and structuring complex deals from his wide network of key introducer relationships, including leading accountancy firms and private equity sponsors. Robert graduated from University College London with a BSc (Hons) in physics.

Prior to starting his career in finance, Robert played cricket with Sussex CCC and gained representative honours with the English universities. He is currently a playing member of the MCC.

Robert Wakeford says: “I’m delighted to join BREAL Zeta at such an exciting time in its evolution. BREAL Zeta is a progressive, inspiring and forward-thinking asset-based lender, with major growth plans. This is an incredibly exciting time to join such an impressive and highly respected team, and to be able to shape the future of the business is an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. In the current environment, UK businesses are facing substantial challenges in being able to access the level and flexibility of working capital they need. BREAL Zeta has the scale to deploy funding up to £150 million with the commercial appetite and commitment to support clients with structured solutions to achieve their ambitions and drive transformational change.”

Commenting on this new, high profile appointment, Brent Osborne, CEO, said: “Securing Robert in this key role is another important step in our long-term plan and I’m delighted that he is joining us. He joins BREAL Zeta with an enviable track record as a consummate dealmaker at the forefront of our industry. He has vast experience of structuring transactions across the entire asset mix, including multi-jurisdictional facilities and possesses all of the qualities to lead our new business origination into a new era. Robert’s appointment signals our strong intent to become a powerful new force in ABL.”