Challenger bank Recognise appoints Paul Beadle as head of communications
Paul Beadle has been appointed as head of communications for Recognise Bank, one of the UK’s newest fintech challenger banks, which launched just over a year ago to serve the country’s small business sector, as well as offering personal and business savings products.
With over 25 years’ experience in financial services, Beadle was previously head of external affairs for Consumer and Social Media at Nationwide Building Society and was most recently an associate director at financial PR agency MRM, where he managed clients including Barclays Wealth and Investments, Shawbrook Bank and fintech investment platform, eToro.
Beadle began working with Recognise Bank at the start of the year, managing its media relations and social media as it progressed through a successful funding round, the lifting of deposit restrictions by the regulator and the launch of its first range of personal saving accounts.
He now takes on the PR and media relations role fulltime and will also oversee internal communications and social media, as well as issues management. As the bank enters its second full year of trading, Beadle will be responsible for developing the communications strategy to support the launch of business savings accounts and other new business lending products in the pipeline.
Beadle said: “It’s an exciting time to be launching a new bank, especially one that has set out to support the UK’s SMEs, which is an economically important and vibrant sector itself. I bring a wealth of experience of working in the highly regulated banking environment, as well as the fast-paced entrepreneurial approach of the fintech sector, a perfect mix to raise the profile and brand awareness of Recognise.”
Beadle will report to deputy CEO Bryce Glover. Glover said: “I’m really pleased to have Paul fully onboard because he brings experience and passion to the communications role. As a new entrant into the sector, we have ambitious plans to change the face of business banking, so Paul’s understanding of traditional media and digital channels will be vital to help us stand out and reach small businesses.”
Recognise Bank was created to provide SMEs with digitally enabled, relationship-led banking across a range of lending options including commercial mortgages, professional buy-to-let loans, bridging loans, working capital loans and professional practice loans. While many of the big banks have cut back on their local support, Recognise has invested in a team of relationship managers in regional hubs based in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
Following the launch of personal savings accounts this year, the bank plans to launch business savings accounts at the start of 2022.
