Bristol and London-based invoice finance provider and fintech firm Optimum Finance have appointed three industry experts to bolster its offering.
The company welcomes James John as its new Head of Risk, Rebecca Salt as Regional Sales Director for the Midlands and Dany Boyle as its new Partnerships Manager.
The new hires follow on from a successful year of growth in 2019, where it funded over £100m worth of invoices and reported a growth in clientele of 56%. Alongside its successful year the finance company has made strategic senior appointments and rolled out vital support packages for SMEs up and down the country during the pandemic.
James John joins Optimum finance with 23 years’ experience. He started off as an auditor for Lombard NatWest Commercial Services (LNCS), who were, at that time, the market leader in invoice discounting. Having spent many years in the finance industry, challenging himself by taking on different roles, James is well-versed in auditing, underwriting, and risk management – including managing distressed debt, fraud and turnaround, insolvency, recoveries, new business origination and compliance.
In his role at Optimum, James will be overseeing new business underwriting and risk management of Optimum’s portfolio as well as heading up clients in collect-out and money laundering reporting (MLR).
When asked about his role at Optimum, James said: “Joining the Optimum Finance team has been a joy. I have been with the company seven weeks now and I am starting to sink my teeth into projects and the company’s systems and portfolio.
“As time goes on, I am really looking forward to getting to know our clients and share my knowledge and expertise with the team as well as be the sanction point for the live portfolio we have here at Optimum.”
With experience in the UK and USA factoring market, Rebecca Salt is no stranger to working with global businesses to provide better funding options. Having worked for Bibby UK and Bibby US (Chicago) over the past four years, her industry knowledge and ambition to help SMEs made her the perfect candidate for Optimum Finance’s new Regional Sales Director – Midlands.
Rebecca said, “Given the current circumstances it has never been more important for SMEs to consider invoice finance and support their financial health as much as they can. I am proud to say I have been an integral part of supporting a business’ decision to move to a more secure finance option.”
She added, “My day-to-day at Optimum will never be the same and I can’t wait for that. It already provides financial security to so many SMEs based in the UK and I know I will strengthen its position within the midlands region through my extensive understanding in how to build relationships with introducers.”
Partnerships Manager, Dany Boyle, worked at Ultimate Finance for over seven years before joining the Optimum team. He originally worked in the client relations department and then moving to credit control, relationship management and then project management where he was responsible for all external partnerships with introducers, brokers, and funding platforms.
Commenting on his role at Optimum Finance, Dany said, “Optimum Finance is an industry leader in what it does, and I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to join the team as its new Partnerships Manager. Having overseen and been part of large partnerships deals throughout my time at Ultimate Finance I know I will be able to enhance Optimum’s already wide offering to introducers, brokers and other funding platforms if needed.”
Scott Braybrook, Interim CEO at Optimum Finance added, “We are pleased to welcome James, Rebecca and Dany to the team. All three bring unique skills and expertise and I am looking forward to seeing them thrive with us at Optimum Finance.
“Their talent is second-to-none and all three of them have already become such strong members of the team and are adding value in their respective areas of business.”
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