Moneyway motors on with new appointments

SOLIHULL-based Moneyway, the motor finance arm of AIM-listed Secure Trust Bank, is targeting an ambitious growth strategy following the appointment of three new managers to its nationwide team.
 
Gary Agar has been appointed as National Broker Manager, responsible for developing Moneyway’s network of broker relationships across the UK. He joins from car dealership group Lookers, where he was Regional Finance & Insurance Business Development Manager, and has three decades’ experience in the motor industry, including a position at Close Brothers Motor Finance.
 
Craig Bell joins as Core Account Manager for Scotland, developing Moneyway’s client relationships across the region. He has 19 years’ experience in automotive sales, most recently as Business Development Manager at AEP Car Parts.
 
Rachel Kiddle has been appointed as Core Account Manager, representing Secure Trust Bank’s motor finance offering to motor dealers across Yorkshire. An experienced sales account manager, she joins from Oracle Asset Finance.  
As part of its ongoing recruitment drive, Moneyway is looking to take on more sales staff to help drive new business in locations including London, Staffordshire, South Wales, Bristol, Somerset and Cornwall.
 
John Simpson, managing director at Moneyway, said: “Moneyway is committed to building even stronger relationships with both new and existing dealers and brokers and our recruitment strategy reflects our growth ambitions. As Moneyway increases its lending appetite across the risk curve and enters the prime space, it is especially important to grow our team as we expand our offering, and we look forward to welcoming more talented individuals to the business.”
 

New MD for Wesleyan’s General Insurance arm

BIRMINGHAM-based mutual Wesleyan, which specialises in services for doctors, dentists, teachers and lawyers, has promoted Ahmed Farooq to the new role of Managing Director of its General Insurance brokering business.
 
Ahmed has worked at Wesleyan for five years and was previously Head of Finance.  He moved into general insurance towards the end of 2013 with a brief to grow the business. He will particularly focus on developing Wesleyan’s business-to-business offering.
 
In his new role he will report into Group Sales & Marketing Director, Samantha Porter, and joins Wesleyan’s executive management team.
 
Commenting on his new role, Ms Porter said: “Ahmed has already made a substantial contribution in establishing Wesleyan’s position as a general insurance broker for our professional customers.  He has reviewed the business model and introduced some comprehensive continuous improvement initiatives that have increased the skill base of his staff and led to cost savings. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

New audit partner for Ormerod Rutter

EXPANDING Worcestershire accountancy practice Ormerod Rutter has recruited a new partner.

Joanne Baldwin (left) joins the Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove-based firm with more than 15 years’ audit experience at large practices in the West Midlands.

Her clients will include larger limited companies as well as charities and academies.

Ms Baldwin, who trained as an accountant in her home city of Birmingham, said: “Understanding a client’s business and building long-term relationships based on honesty and trust are vital in my role as an auditor.

“I’m looking forward to liaising with the many specialists based here at Ormerod Rutter including tax and VAT teams and corporate finance and international trade experts.”

Partner Colm McGrory added: “We’re delighted to welcome Joanne to our growing team. By working closely with her fellow partners and colleagues, she will enable us to continue to provide a complete service to existing and new clients.”

Further new appointments at Ormerod Rutter have seen Ross Whittle made head of strategic partnerships Ross Whittle and Sian Conway become marketing manager.