Bristol-based specialist invoice finance provider Optimum Finance has further strengthened its team with appointments across its marketing and finance departments.
Jo Maniatt joins as marketing director, Szym Wasilewski as finance manager and Liam O’Shea as financial accountant, maintaining the firm’s rapid expansion of last year into 2022. 
Optimum Finance said Jo Maniatt brought a wealth of strategic marketing experience to the firm having achieved transformational change through effective brand building in her previous role as international marketing manager at Newport-based global brand Bisley Office Furniture.
At Optimum she will focus on supporting the firm’s ambitious growth plans through brand building and awareness, product adoption and revenue generation campaigns.
Jo said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Optimum. They are passionate about supporting their clients and delivering a great service that can truly make a difference.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to help them amplify such a great message and play my part in supporting so many fantastic businesses.”
Optimum Finance chief executive Ant Persse, pictured, added: “2021 was about laying the foundations for scale. Optimum delivered a record year while enhancing our product and service delivery. 
“In 2022 and beyond we plan to support many more of the innovative, hardworking SMEs that are the life blood of the UK economy and Jo will be instrumental in helping us deliver just this.
“Jo’s passion to make a difference is fantastic, she comes with a wealth of experience that will result in her being a valuable asset to our business, we are delighted to have her join the team.”
Optimum Finance chief financial officer Vicky Williams said Szym’s and Liam’s appointments would be paramount in achieving the key objectives of the business, continuing to support its clients with their funding needs and driving growth.
“Both are very motivated and excited to be joining Optimum at such a key stage in our journey. They will each bring their own attributes to the team and we are very happy to have them onboard,” she said.
Optimum, which was launched in 2017 and is backed by London private equity group JRJ, provides a range of payment services to small and medium-sized enterprises across a range of sectors.
Last November it was selected to take part in a government-backed programme that aims to help a small group of companies reach exponential growth.
It has also been at the forefront of using the latest technology to assist firms in optimising operational efficiencies and effectiveness in areas such as working capital, growth and costs.
