Ben has previously served at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, RBS and Barclays, during which he spent 15 years working with SMEs in Yorkshire and Scotland.

The alternative finance specialist funds growing SMEs with loans ranging from £100,000-5m.

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Ben said: "I'm really excited to be joining such a dynamic organisation as ThinCats and can't wait to start working with SMEs throughout Yorkshire to help them with their growth plans. 

“ThinCats does the deals that the traditional lenders can't, and I’m looking forward to taking this message out to those growing companies starved of funding. 

"Supporting ambitious SMEs has become more difficult in recent years given the regulatory and capital pressures facing the big four banks. 

“I decided to make a change, and ThinCats offers the opportunity to support high-quality businesses seeking support for that vital next step in their journey."

Damon Walford, chief development officer at ThinCats, said: "Ben's vast experience of the regional market is great news for ThinCats – and SMEs looking for growth funding in the Yorkshire region. 

“He is the latest in a growing number of ex-high street banking professionals to join ThinCats in recent months – all of whom are working with SMEs to achieve their ambitions."