Close focuses on Midlands growth with new sales director

CLOSE Brothers Invoice Finance says it is ready to provide more funding to local firms with the appointment of Martin Baker as regional sales director.

Baker will be based in Birmingham and work with companies across the West Midlands, Hereford and Worcestershire, providing funding packages to both SMEs and large businesses.

Prior to joining Close Brothers, he worked for Royal Bank of Scotland and has more than ten years banking, asset and invoice finance experience.

Baker will be responsible for developing and generating new business across the Midlands area.

He said: “I’ll be working hard to raise awareness of Close Brothers Invoice Finance as a strong lender, with sound funding in place to enable companies to pursue the opportunities that are out there.”

Barclays strengthens its wealth management presence

BARCLAYS has bolstered the presence of its wealth and investment management offering in the Midlands with the appointment of Stephen Howard as private banker. 

Howard will report to Ben Gulliford, director of the wealth and management division in the Midlands.

Prior to joining Barclays, Howard held senior positions at Coutts and Credit Suisse. In his last role at Coutts, he was responsible for client management and business development within the Milton Keynes region and also has previous experience in opening a new wealth management office in Oxford.

Gulliford said: “His extensive knowledge of the area and range of experience in dealing with high net worth clients will be a significant asset to our team.”

Operations director appointed at Aldermore Invoice Finance

LISA Cleaver has been appointed as operations director at Aldermore Invoice Finance.

Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, she will work closely with Chris Dailey, operations director at Aldermore Bank, and Damon Walford, managing director of Aldermore Invoice Finance.

Prior to joining Aldermore, Cleaver spent 14 years with Bibby Financial Services where she held various operational, product and market development roles. These included two overseas secondments in Australia and Ireland and leading the UK export finance business.

Walford said: “Her extensive experience and knowledge of the invoice finance industry will hold her in good stead and I have no doubt Lisa will be able to make a very positive contribution to the future development of the company.”