Finance Appointments: Lloyds TSB Commercial; Barclays; Leigh Graham Associates

New SME head for Lloyds TSB Commercial

LLOYDS TSB Commercial, the division of Lloyds Banking Group which supports SMEs, has appointed Dave Atkinson as the new area director for West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Atkinson, who will head up a group of 62 managers across seven regional teams, has 25 years experience with the bank and is moving back to his home region following time as area director for Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

As manufacturing is key sector for employment and growth across the region, Atkinson will be working closely with the bank’s team of manufacturing relationship managers, who recently completed an accredited training programme with the University of Warwick.  

Atkinson said: “Companies across the West Midlands are looking to generate growth opportunities and drive the region’s economy forward, and it is an exciting time to be working with these local businesses.

“The team will continue to build long-term relationships with SMEs and the wider community to ensure our customers have access to the funding they need to flourish and diversify.”

Barclays recruits from business school to bolster wealth management offering

BARCLAYS has bolstered its wealth and investment management offering in Birmingham with the appointment of Private Banker, Cecelia Russell.

Prior to joining Barclays, Russell spent seven years as a Postgraduate Programmes Manager at Warwick Business School, where she ran a portfolio of premium finance-related Masters courses. She arrives at the wealth and investment management division of the bank as part of the Embark scheme, under which Barclays looks to attract talented individuals who have spent time in a different profession and are looking to make the transition into wealth management.

Ben Gulliford, Regional Director for Barclays Wealth and Investment Management in Birmingham, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Cecelia to the Barclays team in the Midlands. The experience she has gained in the world of academia will be of great value in her work as part of our team and we look forward to the fresh perspectives she will bring.

“The Embark programme is an excellent way of attracting individuals such as Cecelia who have a proven track record of success in their previous roles.”

LGA celebrates fifth anniversary

LGA partners Leigh Day and Graham Beach celebrate their fifth anniversary and the graduation of their first recruit Luke Bryan with senior audit manager Nick HeaneyStratford upon Avon accountancy firm Leigh Graham Associates is celebrating its fifth anniversary with the graduation of its first recruit.

Luke Bryan joined the firm as an audit and accounts junior in 2007, where he worked alongside newly-promoted audit manager Nick Heaney.

Graham Beech, LGA managing partner, said: “Luke has been a model employee since Leigh and I first recruited him. He is admired and respected by colleagues and clients alike. We are also pleased to announce that Nick has now been promoted to senior manager, and look forward to the next five years with Luke and Nick.”

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