Specialist funder Bibby Financial Services has boosted its trade finance team with the appointment of Robin Crouch as Head of Sales for the central region.
With a background in commercial banking, Robin joins with 20 years’ experience in the industry having joined from Lloyds Bank where he held the role of Relationship Director.
Robin said: “I’m delighted with the new role and see this as a great opportunity to help grow our trade finance client-base throughout the central region.
“BFS is an extremely ambitious and forward thinking business and I’m pleased to be joining at a time where we’re investing to grow our trade finance proposition. By focusing on the underlying transaction rather than the security available we can support businesses where traditional bank funding falls short.”
Robin – who joined the business in January - is based throughout the central region at the funder’s offices in Leicester, Birmingham and Bristol.
Last year the funder saw a significant hike in the number of clients looking to increase overseas trading, demonstrated by a 60 per cent growth in its trade finance client book.
Managing Director of Trade Finance at Bibby Financial Services, Mark Lindsay said: “In the past we were predominantly known as an invoice finance provider, but we now offer a range of services for businesses of all sizes in more than 300 industry sectors.
“Our trade finance capabilities form an important part of our future strategy. Over the past year, we have grown our trade finance business significantly, and we’re fast becoming the go-to team for purchase funding throughout the industry.”
Featuring on BBC Midlands Today, the business announced the opening of its new West Midlands Business Centre in October, signifying its plans to expand in the region.
Bibby Financial Services Regional Sales Director for the Central region, Dave Webb says that the business has invested heavily in the Midlands over the past year. He said: “The central region is key to the success of Bibby Financial Services and I’m confident that – with Robin’s experience in commercial finance – we will be able to grow our footprint even further.”
“We’re unrivalled in our ability to support businesses at any stage of their lifecycle, from rapid growth to expansion; importing and exporting. Additionally, we can structure a range of transactions for mergers and acquisitions, turnaround and refinancing, so we can help businesses, whatever their requirement.”