Briefly tell us about your journey at Close Brothers Asset Finance that led to this position:
Prior to joining Close Brothers Asset Finance, I worked at another large funder specialising in Engineering asset finance for around 10 years. I then joined Close Brothers Asset Finance in October 2008 as an Area Sales Manager, before being promoted to Regional Sales Manager and then Sales Director, before finally being promoted to Managing Director.
Why is manufacturing a key sector for Close Brothers Asset Finance?
Manufacturing is always innovating – if you don’t invest, you get left behind. If businesses want to be successful, they need to invest in people, processes and technology, which could be CNC machinery or robotics, for example. The way we work is to establish long-term relationships with our clients, based on our shared expertise.
What is it about your team and how it operates that makes it unique in the marketplace?
I’m going to focus on one of our USPs, which is the joint offering of Asset Finance and Invoice Finance for targeted acquisitions within the manufacturing sector. If a manufacturer wants to take over another business, we have strong expertise working with firms to do just that and can provide a very competitive offering.
What plans do you have to grow your business?
We have just taken on four highly experienced additional sales team members who have already hit the ground running. I’m really looking forward to the next few years as they embed into the business and serve our customers, existing and new.
What do you think is the prospect for UK manufacturing?
I’m very positive about the future of manufacturing in the UK. We are world-leading in so many aspects of manufacturing, and really do punch well above our weight, whether it’s in automotive, aerospace, nuclear, or food and drink – the list is endless.
What is the one message you’d like to give both customers and anyone wanting to work with us?
We are keen to work with businesses who want to grow and innovate, regardless of where they are in their own business cycle. We partner with all businesses, whether they are new starts or established operators – and we also fund through all economic cycles, which is something we’re very proud of.
