eCapital Commercial Finance UK strengthens leadership with two strategic board appointments
eCapital Commercial Finance UK (eCapital), a leading provider of commercial finance solutions, has announced two key strategic appointments to its UK Board of Directors as part of an evolution in its corporate structure, designed to drive the company’s next phase of growth.
Ant Persse has been appointed chief product officer, bringing a wealth of experience across product innovation, finance technology, and credit risk. He has successfully led the development of finance businesses across domestic and international markets, overseen multi-billion-pound unsecured risk portfolios, and most recently served as CEO of Optimum Commercial Finance, where he led its successful transformation and growth.
As chief product officer, Ant will focus on embedding innovation into product strategy, using technology to deepen client value and unlock growth across the group. His proven ability to deliver scalable tech-enabled solutions and data-led decisioning will support the evolution of eCapital’s product suite and the continued integration of the Optimum business.
Lisa Cleaver also joins as chief operating officer, bringing extensive industry experience in both start-up and scale-up businesses, including the set up of a new bank in Australia. Lisa’s expertise in operational excellence, strategic implementation, and change management from both independent finance providers and the banking sector, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia, will bolster the current Board as they move into the next phase of growth.
In her role as chief operating officer, Lisa will drive operational resilience and efficiency and ensure seamless alignment between business strategy and execution. Her experience will be instrumental in scaling the business around eCapital’s regional geographical strategy while maintaining the company’s exceptional service proposition.
“These appointments represent a pivotal moment in eCapital’s evolution,” says David Tilling, CEO of eCapital Commercial Finance UK. “As we continue to build a stronger, more agile business, Lisa and Ant bring the precise combination of operational excellence and technological innovation we need to execute our ambitious growth plans. The commercial finance marketplace has transformed significantly, and to maintain our leadership position in this competitive and ever-evolving environment, we must adapt and innovate.”
Ant Persse adds: “I’m thrilled to join the UK Board at such a transformative time. My focus is on enhancing our existing products and developing smart, scalable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and future clients. By combining innovation with execution, we have a real opportunity to raise the bar in commercial finance.”
Lisa Cleaver says that she is excited for the opportunity to drive the company’s growth strategy, adding: “I’m delighted to being joining during an exciting period for the firm and am very much looking forward to delivering the best service for our clients.”