FOLK2FOLK appoints new boss and doubles the size of its board
Friday 27th September 2019 – FOLK2FOLK, the multi-award-winning Peer-to-Peer lending platform for local, rural and SME businesses is pleased to announce the formal appointment of Roy Warren as its new Managing Director and the addition of four new members to its board.
FOLK2FOLK, who spearhead The Local Lending Movement, is the third largest peer-to-peer lender to business in the UK, in terms of cumulative lending (source: Brismo’s volume indices*). By doubling the size of its board and with the appointment of a new Managing Director, FOLK2FOLK brings even greater capability and expertise to the helm of its business.
Roy Warren, Managing Director
Previously Head of Risk and Loan Portfolio, Roy has been FOLK2FOLK’s ‘risk man’ for the past four years and his cautious approach to risk has been instrumental in the company’s enviable track record. With this appointment Roy, who has been filling the role in an interim capacity in recent months, officially replaces FOLK2FOLK’s former CEO as the company’s new boss.
Roy also brings considerable experience in corporate banking, asset finance, origination, risk and portfolio management gained over 37 years of senior level roles with Hill Samuel and RBS respectively.
Joining the FOLK2FOLK board:
Alex Daly, non-executive director
Alex is a Chief Financial Officer with an extensive range of both accounting, risk and business experience, gained through working at retail and challenger banks, FinTechs and alternative consumer lenders. He brings to the FOLK2FOLK board a wealth of experienced gleaned from working within a diverse range of businesses from Private Equity funded through to Listed and the Public Sector.
Graham Dingle, non-executive director
Graham brings fifty years of small business experience along with specialist knowledge of farming and agricultural businesses, a key sector for FOLK2FOLK. In partnership with his two brothers, Graham runs his family’s arable farm in Cornwall and Dingle Brothers Systems Limited, an engineering business specialising in computer systems for agricultural businesses.
Justin Abbott Chalew, independent non-executive director (pending FCA approval)
Justin is a technology leader with experience across both start-ups, scale-ups and large corporates. He has worked as Chief Technology Officer at several technology businesses and held digital transformation and programme management roles in both the United States and the UK. In addition to IT governance and financial management, he has domain experience in FinTech and in delivering secure and scalable platforms.
Megan McCracken, independent non-executive director (pending FCA approval)
Megan is a strategy and transformation executive with over 20 years of experience across global businesses, including HSBC and Citigroup. She is also an independent director with a portfolio of financial services and digital boards from FTSE 250 to smaller, high growth businesses. Megan brings a proven ability to guide boards at the intersection of organisational, operational, digital and regulatory change.
The growth in size and capability of FOLK2FOLK’s leadership team has contributed to the decision by co-Founder Mark Parnall to step down from the board to focus on his other growth businesses. Mark has been a board member since he co-founded the company in 2013 and will remain a major shareholder of FOLK2FOLK and a passionate supporter of the business.
Roy Warren FOLK2FOLK Managing Director said:“We’re delighted to warmly welcome our new board members who bring a broad range of technology, finance, general business and sector experience to complement the skills and knowledge of our current members.
“I am in no doubt the company will benefit from the perspectives they offer and the enthusiasm they bring. I look forward to leading FOLK2FOLK onto its next stage of development.
”I would like to personally thank Mark Parnall for his significant and vital role in bringing FOLK2FOLK from concept, through start-up to becoming ‘The Local Lending Movement’ it is today.”
FOLK2FOLK recently surpassed £300 million in cumulative lending enabling small businesses, across a wide range of sectors, access to the finance they need to grow, diversify or refinance.
