Catalyst arrows in on growth with appointment of Fletcher

CATALYST Corporate Finance has continued its recent expansion with the recruitment of experienced M&A advisor Bobby Fletcher.

Fletcher, a graduate from Nottingham University, joins Catalyst from DC Advisory where he spent several years in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and debt advisory teams. Prior to this, he was at Zeus Capital where he focused on private and public company M&A.

His main responsibilities at Catalyst will include advising on management buy-outs, fund raisings, company acquisitions and disposals.

He will be part of Catalyst’s consumer team having previously worked with a number of high profile businesses in the sector such as Card Factory, Byron Hamburgers, Inventive Leisure, On the Beach and Aurum Holdings. In addition, he will work closely with Andrew Shellard in the debt capital markets team, focusing on refinancing and acquisition finance transactions.

Andy Currie, Managing Partner at Catalyst, said: “We have expanded our team significantly at all levels over the last 12 months adding two partners, four deal-makers and three research staff across all our offices. We will continue to invest in our business and attract top quality candidates as our pipeline remains strong and we continue to win work throughout the UK.”

New Regional Sales Director for Positive in Birmingham

INVOICE finance firm Positive Cashflow Finance has announced the appointment of Joe Vasey as Regional Sales Director at its Birmingham office.
 
Vasey, left, joins the firm from RBS Invoice Finance, where he worked for four years, most recently as Head of Business Development.  In his previous role, he led a new business team who provided finance solutions to support growth in high quality clients across the Midlands and East of England. He is a graduate of The University of Stirling, with a degree in Business Economics and Marketing and has 10 years Asset and Invoice Finance experience. Vasey is also a fully qualified chartered banker.
 
At Positive, he will be working alongside Paul Varley in Birmingham, to help boost the firm’s growing portfolio across the region.
 
Vasey said: “The Midlands represents a great opportunity for new business development. There are many businesses in this region that are looking to grow, and asset-based lending and invoice finance are proving to be increasingly effective in supporting their needs.”

Paul Varley, Regional Sales Director at Positive, said: “Joe’s appointment is a timely one as we are entering 2014 with a strong pipeline of business coupled with improving market confidence and we are looking forward to supporting more of the region’s businesses.”
 

Golden new appointment for T W Financial Planning

STAFFORDSHIRE-based T W Financial Planning, the independent financial arm of chartered accountants Thompson Wright, has appointed Chris Devey as a chartered financial planner.

The role is regarded as the profession’s gold standard for financial planners, and Devey, left, is one of just 4,000 in the country to hold the prestigious title.

With more than 15 years of experience in the financial sector, Devey began his working career at Britannia, before working at Natwest and later at Baker Tilly.

In his new role, he will be based at Thompson Wright’s Newcastle-under-Lyme office.

He said: “I will be providing independent financial advice to personal and corporate clients, and will predominantly be working with small and medium sized businesses in all sectors.”

He said demand among corporate clients for more detailed financial advice had grown, in part due to confusion among employers with regards to compliance with the Government pension auto enrolment scheme.