Appointments: McGuire joins ‘challenger’ bank; Rickitt Mitchell & more
JOHN McGuire, the veteran former Royal Bank of Scotland corporate chairman and non-executive director, has joined the board of new ‘challenger’ bank, Cambridge & Counties.
Cheshire-based Mr McGuire, who sits on the board of home shopping group N Brown, recently stepped down as chairman of North West Business Finance, which runs the North West Fund.
He told TheBusinessdesk.com that Cambridge & Counties has ambitious plans to expand beyond its East Anglian base and move into secured lending to small and medium-sized businesses.
“In time the plan is to open offices in key regional cities including Manchester, Birmingham Leeds and Bristol. The bank is funded by New College Cambridge and the local authority pension fund. It has a 20-year heritage as a pension fund bank and these services to funds and SIPPs will continue to be available along with the secured lending to SMEs.
“We now have FSA approval and the full banking licence in June.We want to make a difference in the SME market, there is a great opportunity in the market.”
Earlier this year the 64-year-old stepped down as vice chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland Pension Fund Trustee and as audit chair of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. He is also a former non-executive director of The University of Manchester.
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MANCHESTER-based corporate finance boutique Rickitt Mitchell has promoted Neil Mitchell to director.
Mr Mitchell, joined the Deansgate-based firm eight years ago as a corporate finance executive and later moved up to become an associate director.
He has advised on more than 50 transactions including the flotation of Instem Life Sciences and MBOs of personalised clothing and accessories specialist, Beechfield Brands and contemporary jewellery retailer Green + Benz.
Stuart Moss, managing partner at Rickitt Mitchell, said: “Neil’s promotion is testament to the hard work and contribution he has made to the firm over the years. We feel it is the right time to promote him on to the board to help drive the continued success and growth of the firm over the coming years.”
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LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce has appointed its former head of client services Jenny Stewart as its new chief operating officer.
Ms Stewart, from Birkenhead whose career includes time in the Diplomatic Service, takes overall responsibility for the chamber’s operations following the departure of former chief executive Jack Stopforth.
Chamber chairman John Sutcliffe said: “Jenny has repeatedly proven her leadership and commercial credentials in a number of roles, both in the chamber and in her previous career. She is a popular and well-known business figure in the city and we are delighted she has taken on this role.”
