People: Lender reveals new chair; national role for PKF Smith Cooper specialist

ThinCats, the Ashby lender, has appointed of Keith Morgan CBE as chair.

Morgan brings a wealth of experience to the SME and alternative finance market having served as the founding chief executive of the British Business Bank, the UK Government’s economic development bank for business.

Morgan will succeed Quentin Baer who has been chair since 2016 and who will remain as a Non-Executive Director.

Morgan said: “As a leading alternative lender to mid-sized SMEs, ThinCats has an important role to play in providing much needed funding to businesses that are putting in place new growth plans following the pandemic. I am delighted to be taking on the role of chair at this time, as ThinCats expands its operations and deploys its increased funding base to lend a further £2 billion to scale-up businesses over the next few years.”

Catherine Desmond

Head of private client services and landed estates at PKF Smith Cooper, Catherine Desmond has taken a seat on the Country Land and Business Association’s national tax committee.

She said: “Many of my clients are also involved with the CLA and both contribute to, and benefit from, the work that they do.

I am delighted to be able to play my part and look forward to hearing views from clients and contacts on the impacts taxation policy has on the rural economy that can be taken forward to the Committee.

I also sit on the local Derbyshire Committee and am happy to hear of rural issues other than taxation that others would like aired in that forum.”