Funding firm gains a new face in the boardroom

INDEPENDENT finance provider Henry Howard Finance (HHF) has added to its management team in a bid to build on recent success.

Anne Williams, who brings more than two decades of senior management experience at GE Capital, has been appointed as HHF’s chief operating officer and group board member.

The appointment follows a period in which the Wales-based firm provided financial solutions in excess of £150m to more than 6,000 UK businesses in 2016. The post will bolster the company’s aim to continue increasing its revenue and business opportunities, while minimising costs.

Mrs Williams, originally from south Wales, will work under the direction of group chief executive officer and co-founder Mark Crook, as well as the HHF group board.

She will use her experience to support HHF’s PLC operations – including its payout, customer services, credit, operations and compliance teams – and ensure the sustainability of the company’s planned growth.

Joining GE Capital in 1994, Mrs Williams quickly rose up the ranks, eventually spending more than three and a half years as fulfilment leader, helping the company improve service levels, productivity and secure a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence.

“Henry Howard Finance presents an exciting new challenge for me as a member of the board and chief operating officer,” said Mrs Williams.

“To be part of such an innovative Welsh firm is a privilege and I look forward to working with the team.”

“The business saw rapid growth and a string of successes during 2016, as access to finance continues to prove challenging for many SMEs, with high-street lenders constrained by red tape and lengthy approval processes.

“Our in-house underwriting team and own book facility allows us to be more agile as a lender, providing quicker credit decisions for customers.

“I look forward to extending our outreach and further developing the HHF offering to our customers.”

Group chief executive officer Mark Crook added: “Anne’s appointment reflects the forwardthinking ethos of Henry Howard Finance.

“The board and I are confident that her calibre and experience will prove vital in our ongoing efforts to support productivity and growth, while ensuring that HHF remains a first-choice funder for clients across the UK.”