Independent Growth Finance (IGF), a provider of tailored asset-based lending solutions for UK SMEs and mid-market businesses, has announced the appointment of Graham Leaney as ABL director for the South West of England and South Wales.
Leaney has extensive experience in the ABL and working capital financing industry, having worked in roles of increasing responsibility over the past 20plus years at HSBC, Close Brothers Invoice Finance, Siemens Invoice Finance and Bibby.
He has broad experience working with a variety of sectors and an excellent track record of delivering impactful results for SME and mid-market companies. In his role as ABL director at IGF, he will be responsible for delivering IGF’s flexible and innovative bespoke financial and ABL solutions and services to clients and prospects across the South West of England and South Wales.
Leaney will also be focused on engaging with, developing and enhancing relationships with key financial advisors, turnaround practitioners, accountants, corporate financiers, business owners and sponsors (including PE houses), and management teams in the region.
Joysheel Mitter, commercial director at IGF, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Graham to the team. As IGF continues to grow and expand its support for UK businesses, Graham’s appointment will play a key role in enhancing our presence in the region. We welcome Graham at a very exciting time for our company, off the back of a string of new senior appointments and promotions at IGF. We’re sure his in-depth knowledge of the regional market will add significant strength to our team and help us continue to deliver exceptional results.”
Leaney added: “I am looking forward to helping mid-sized businesses across the South West and South Wales achieve their growth aspirations. There are many businesses across our region which are being restricted by limited access to bank funding and IGF can offer an alternative flexible solution to mid-sized businesses in this space who require quick decision making and a tailored approach. Our products include Invoice Finance, Construction Finance, Property, P&M and Inventory Finance.”
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The Cornwall & West Devon branch of a major housebuilder has appointed its new contracts manager.
Dane Brown has taken up the role with Persimmon Homes after six years with Vistry, where he was a site manager. He started in the industry as a builder in Stoke-on-Trent before joining the Army, serving for 11 years.
Brown went on to work as an assistant site manager for Bovis and a section manager for Wates, overseeing retrofit works in apartment buildings in Birmingham, before joining Vistry and, now, Persimmon.
Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon has sites across the region, with high-quality homes available for sale in Bideford, Falmouth, Helston, Liskeard, Newquay, Okehampton, and Plymouth.
Brown said: “I came to Persimmon for a new challenge, something that I relish. I love the team environment and atmosphere around the business, which matters a lot to me having moved here from another part of the country.
“This new role is a great opportunity at an exciting business with ambitious plans and I look forward to growing within the business.”
Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon managing director Andy Hill added: “We’re delighted that Dane has joined us and we look forward to seeing what he does in the role. He brings a wealth of experience to the business which I know we will value greatly as he gets on with his new responsibilities.
“The Cornwall & West Devon business has many high-quality sites under construction with exciting plans to bring more much-needed homes to the region in the coming years, and I am pleased Dane will be a part of those projects.”
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Greg Crosse
Savills has strengthened its Exeter-based residential team with the appointment of two experienced agents.
Born and raised in Exeter, Greg Crosse has joined the business as a director with more than 25 years of agency experience. He began his career in 2001 in the prime central London market, working predominantly in South Kensington and Chelsea.
Crosse returned to the west country in 2009 and spent five years with a well-respected regional estate agency based in Exeter. He joins Savills from an international firm where he was a partner, specialising in prime property in the Home Counties.
His role within Savills will see him focus on prime property sales within the greater Exeter area, and into East Devon and Dartmoor.
Tim Jones has been appointed as an associate director within the Savills team. Originally from the South Hams, he built a successful career in the property sector in South West London, where he established and managed a leading independent agency at partner level for nine years.
He returned to the South Hams in 2015, specialising in prime property sales for a leading regional agency, and became a board director in 2023. For Savills he will focus on the South Hams market.
Chris Clifford, head of residential sales for Savills Exeter, said: “I am delighted to welcome Greg and Tim to Savills and indeed back to their west country roots. Both are exceptional agents armed with extensive experience in the sale of prime property, and with unrivalled knowledge of their respective markets.”