Business finance firm appoints ousted MP
OUSTED MP John Leech has been appointed as business relationship director at Ashley Business Finance.
Mr Leech will liaise with trade and regulatory bodies and represent the Manchester-based company, which provides finance for small firms, at organisations such as The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) and the The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
He has more than 20 years’ experience in local and national politics. Prior to becoming an MP, he worked for McDonalds as a trainee manager and the RAC and served for ten years as a member of Manchester City Council where he was deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group.
He was elected to Parliament in 2005 as MP for Manchester Withington and also acted as the party’s transport spokesperson before losing his seat in the recent elections.
Mr Leech has been responsible for financial scrutiny in a number of his political roles and he also played a key part in securing the return of the £6.5m lost by The Christie Hospital in the Icelandic banking collapse.
He said: “Ashley Business Finance has been playing an important role in supporting small firms at a time when bank lending has been in decline. I will be working to raise the profile of the company and to develop closer links within the business community.”
Jonathan Cranston, Ashley’s chairman, added: “John’s skills and experience make him ideally suited to act as Ashley’s ambassador. His appointment will allow us to engage more actively with our own industry bodies and organisations representing the interests of small business.”
