Bristol-based invoice finance firm Optimum Finance has appointed Mike Stevens as regional sales director for London and the South East, signalling the start of the next phase of growth for the company.
With a background in banking and finance at Barclays and RBS, Mike, pictured, joins Optimum Finance with a view to drawing on his experience, particularly in the tech sector, and bringing a fresh approach to cashflow financing. 
His appointment underpins Optimum Finance’s growth over the past year. It recently doubled staffing to 18 as it expands its roster of high-profile clients across a range of industries.
It also teams him up again with Optimum Finance’s founder and CEO Richard Pepler. The two previously worked together at Bristol-based factoring group Ultimate Finance – a business also founded by Richard Pepler and where Mike was senior business development executive until earlier this year.
Mike said: “We are seeing a huge shift from invoice finance being viewed as a factoring product to it being viewed as a product to facilitate business growth. The solutions we provide are helping those businesses to achieve their aspirations and that’s something I’m passionate about.
“SME businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy and it’s great being able to work so closely with business owners so they can concentrate on developing and expanding their companies.
“I’m thrilled to have joined Optimum Finance at such an important time of expansion. It’s a great privilege becoming part of such a rapidly growing and expertly run business.”
Richard Pepler added: “Having previously worked with Mike, I’m certain his appointment is going to be hugely positive for the company.
“We pride ourselves on the strong, trusting relationships we build with our clients and I know that, as the new regional sales director, Mike is committed to providing high-quality invoice finance solutions to enable the business-owners we work with to focus on what they do best.”
Richard Pepler founded Optimum Finance last year to provide funding for SMEs to enable them to release cash tied up in client invoices.
Its products include invoice discounting and factoring as well as a dedicated credit control team if clients prefer to outsource this element of their financial management.
Richard was chief executive of Ultimate Finance for nearly 10 years, having previously worked for Bibby Factors in Bristol.
