Haydn Thomas, NatWest’s South West regional managing director – business banking, has been appointed as the bank’s head of business development – business banking, for the whole of the UK.
As well as overseeing the bank’s business development strategy for business banking, Haydn, pictured – who has worked for NatWest for more than 21 years – will lead a team of 73 new business growth enablers from across the country. 
They will be tasked with supporting more than 50,000 current and new start-up and small businesses before the end of 2016 via personal meetings, bespoke events and digital repositories. In 2017 the target will be 100,000.
He will also liaise closely with NatWest’s commercial finance brokers across the UK and head business banking’s partnerships and proposition teams, working with corporate partners such as accountancy group KPMG and payment processing company WorldPay.
Haydn said: “I am delighted to take up this new role and lead our business development strategy across the UK. SMEs are vital to the success of our economy and our goal is to be more than a provider of financial services to businesses wherever we operate.
“As well as helping them to survive and grow by delivering advice, we will also be providing further support and key contacts through a series of local events.”
Haydn, whose new post has recently been made permanent, has been replaced by Chris Preston in the role of regional managing director – business banking for the South West and Wales.
Chris has worked for NatWest for 30 years and was previously the bank’s South West regional director – business banking.
The role oversees NatWest’s support for businesses with an annual turnover of up to £2m and lending requirements of up to £500,000.
The regional team has 17 directors and 150 relationship managers working across sectors ranging from healthcare and real estate finance to tourism and agriculture.
