CLOSE Brothers grows its Scottish team with seven new appointments, including new sales manager Matt Maley – previously head of sales at Manheim – plus a new account manager, operations manager and four branch underwriters all based in Livingston.
Since 2001, the branch has provided a personal service to dealers in Scotland through a flexible underwriting process and assistance with dealer-customer relationships – helping to increase footfall and sales in forecourts across Scotland.
The new task force demonstrates Close Brothers Motor Finance’s commitment to delivering a personalised service to the dealers who operate in the region.
- Matt Maley, previously head of sales at Manheim, is the new sales manager and will be responsible for helping Scottish dealerships increase their sales, grow their customer base and retain current patrons. Maley will manage his team of five account managers dedicated to the region, while setting targets and objectives and implementing strategy. Maley brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in the industry for nearly 30 years.
- Joining the sales team is Mark Barker, new account manager for Scottish dealers.
Baker has a wealth of industry experience, having previously worked at the SMTA (Scottish Motor Trader Association) and brings with him great knowledge and relationships with small and medium dealership.
Baker also worked in retail sales for a dealerships, including cars and LCVs.
- Stephen Walsh has taken over as operations manager and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Scottish branch.
Walsh has 13 years of banking experience and has undertaken many roles ranging from managing consumer lending to helping set up the overseas contact centre for Lloyds TSB, as well as the role of bank manager.
- Owen McAdam, Raymond Maxwell, Laura Sandison and Scott McEwan have been appointed as branch underwriters.
McAdam brings over a decade of, sales and management experience having previously held the role of customer loyalty advisor at Scottish Widows. Maxwell joins with 30 years of experience within the financial industry in retail banking.
Sandison joins with 15 years’ experience of the finance industry working in secured and unsecured collections for the Royal Bank of Scotland, and McEwan joins from a credit oriented background, previously a purchase ledger supporting varying credit queries.
These new appointments continue to strengthen Close Brothers’ branch network, a unique proposition in the motor finance industry, helping to ensure local dealers are supported with business development while using local knowledge to help cater to their customers’ specific vehicle and financing requirements.
James Broadhead, CEO of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “Expanding the team in Scotland reinforces our commitment to the Scottish market – a region which plays an important part in our business plans. Our new recruits allow us to further focus and expand the support we can provide to our dealership-partners and customers in Scotland.
“Face-to-face dealership support is a crucial part of our business and these strategic appointments will help us to further support dealerships through strong local account management, accessible regional support teams and flexible human underwriting”
Matt Maley, the new sales manager at Livingston, added: “It is a very exciting time to be a part of Close Brothers, especially during a period of expansion in the Scottish market. Close Brother Motor Finances’ dealer-led proposition is a unique model of finance in the motor industry ensuring face-to-face contact and support for dealerships across the region.
“With our on-the-road team raring to go, and with the support from our newly-strengthened team, I am confident that we can add value to motor dealerships and businesses across Scotland.”
