This week’s London appointments

Natalie Player, Deborah Ward - Ampla Finance

Legal finance provider Ampla Finance announced the appointment of Natalie Player and Deborah Ward, both qualified lawyers, as commercial director and partnership director respectively.

Natalie takes up the role of commercial director, heading up the business’ partnerships team, along with taking responsibility for developing existing and new products for the market. Deborah has been appointed as partnership director, taking responsibility for Ampla’s relationships with law firms and solicitors across the North of England and the Midlands.

Both Natalie and Deborah join Ampla from Novitas Loans, where they were account directors for the last four years. Before Natalie’s time at the business, she trained and practiced as a Solicitor at Bircham Dyson Bell (now BDB Pitmans) and Ambrose Appelbe, both London based firms. Natalie will predominantly be based in Ampla’s London office and will be responsible for the company’s relationships in London and the South of England.

Prior to Deborah’s time at Novitas, she was a Director at O’Neill Morgan and a solicitor at Keoghs, Nicholls, Lindsell & Harris, where she specialised in all aspects of personal injury and private client work, including dealing with probate issues. Deborah will be based in Manchester, further enhancing Ampla’s reach around the country.

Both directors join Ampla just two months after the arrival of the business’ first CEO, Richard Kennerley, formerly head of CYBG’s corporate and structured finance business and Queensland state general manager of National Australia Bank.

Richard Kennerley, CEO of Ampla Finance, said: “I’m delighted to welcome both Natalie and Debbie to Ampla. Both have extensive networks and commercial relationships and, as ex-lawyers, a depth of industry experience that will be of tremendous value to our partners and clients.

Commercial director Natalie Player commented: “I am really excited to be joining Ampla Finance at this pivotal moment in the market. I’ve been really impressed by the ambition the business has shown over the last couple of years, which has helped to establish the company as a major player in the legal finance market already.”

Partnership director Deborah Ward added: “There’s a brilliant team already in place, who’ve done a terrific job growing the business in the last two years. I’m looking forward to working alongside Richard and the rest of the team as we look to continue expanding and building up the client base right across the UK.”

Omega Poole, Robert Pritchard - LendInvest

Property asset manager LendInvest announced two senior hires to its Funds team, with Omega Poole joining as its new head of capital raising and Robert Pritchard joining as its new head of fund management.

The hires come as LendInvest expands its senior team in funds and technology, following the company’s IPO in July 2021 and as it seeks to scale the business and disrupt the property finance market.

Omega joins LendInvest from law firm Mishcon de Reya where she worked within the debt advisory team. With over 18 years’ experience as a financier, real estate corporate finance advisor and lawyer, over the last nine years Omega has focused predominantly on sourcing capital. She was previously a partner at Brown Rudnick LLP and a Director at CBRE.

At LendInvest Omega will be focused on leading capital raising efforts for the existing fund and new fund series going forward.

Robert joins LendInvest from Urban Exposure PLC, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer. Robert oversaw the company’s restructuring and return of shareholder capital. Previously a director at CBRE and vice president of origination at Barclays, Robert has a broad range of real estate experience.

Within his new role at LendInvest, he will be responsible for driving the growth and performance of the company’s fund management business.

Omega commented: “Having watched the LendInvest business carve a new niche and become a leading property finance asset manager supporting SME developers in the UK over the last decade or so, I’m absolutely delighted to have joined the funds team to help continue the development of our successful funds business.”

Robert Pritchard, Head of Fund Management at LendInvest, added: “I am very pleased to have joined LendInvest during such an exciting time for the company. The strength of brand and entrepreneurial spirit at LendInvest positions us well to further expand our fund management business and become one of the leading specialist managers in the UK.”

Boura Kym Tomlinson Cann - Amaiz

London based banking app Amaiz has appointed Boura Kym Tomlinson Cann as their first non-executive director.

Boura has spent the last 14 years as global chief compliance and legal officer at Polar Capital and previously spent over seven years at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), supervising wholesale and derivatives firms.

Most recently she was an enforcement manager bringing disciplinary cases against investment firms.

Amaiz was launched in March 2020 to combine banking and bookkeeping into one app for businesses. It recently extended its offering to international payments and now accepts personal accounts.

Amaiz managing director Steve Taklalsingh said: “We’re delighted to welcome Boura to the Board. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Amaiz that will be invaluable as the company continues to grow and take on new challenges.”

Boura commented: “It is very exciting to be able to become involved with such a dynamic and innovative company as Amaiz.”

Philomena Gray - Imagination

Global experience design company Imagination announced Philomena Gray’s appointment as chief people officer, leading talent and HR strategy across the Imagination group, reporting to CEO, Patrick Reid.

Philomena joins Imagination from Photobox, where she was Human Resources Director of International Operations, across the UK, France, Germany and Spain. Her experience leading HR in media companies includes chief people and talent officer at Publicis Communications UK, as well as time spent at Live Nation as HR Director for Europe.

In this role, Philomena will work across Imagination’s 14 global offices, focusing on developing talent, recruitment and retention, and building on the existing DE&I strategy to support the continuing growth of the business.

Philomena commented: “I’m thrilled to be joining such an innovative and forward-thinking business that leads the world in experience design.

“It’s an important and exciting time in terms of talent investment and development, and I look forward to working with Patrick and the wider global team to build on Imagination’s HR strategy and to empower every employee to develop, grow and thrive.”

Patrick Reid, CEO at Imagination, added: “It’s a pivotal moment for Imagination as we drive the next phase of growth. Philomena brings to us a great wealth of experience and knowledge from her diverse and varied career.

“We look forward to harnessing her unique skill set to help nurture and build our company culture of Independent Creativity, growing and supporting the company’s talent to ensure we continue to deliver world-class experiences for our clients.”

James Coyle - Supply@Me

Fintech business Supply@ME Capital PLC announced the appointment of Jim Coyle as its new independent non-executive chairman with effect from October 28 2021.

James succeeds Dominic White, who stepped down from the role in July of this year.

After a thirty-year career at some of the UK’s largest institutions, including BP, Bank of Scotland and Lloyd’s Banking Group PLC, where he served most recently as group financial controller and deputy group finance director, James has been appointed to a number of board roles mainly across the financial services industry.

He currently serves as a non-executive director and audit chair of HSBC UK Bank PLC and M&S Bank PLC and chairs other M&S group subsidiaries, as well as serving as Senior Independent Director on the board of Honeycomb Investment Trust PLC and Audit and Risk Chair at Scottish Water.

He has previously held the role of Chair at international payments business World First and qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG.

SYME chief executive, Alessandro Zamboni said: “I am very pleased to welcome Jim to Supply@ME. He brings vast experience and an exceptional track record gained at some of the UK’s largest financial institutions. His counsel, expertise and network of contacts will be invaluable as we embark on an exciting new stage in Supply@ME’s growth.”

SYME chair, James Coyle said: “I am delighted to be joining Supply@ME as its new chair. This is a great opportunity to work with a business with a unique model and brilliant leadership team. The growth strategy and opportunity for Supply@ME are clear and I believe we are well positioned for the years ahead.”

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