bartley paul arkle finance

Hampshire Trust Bank has appointed Paul Bartley as managing director of its asset finance division, Specialist Business Finance.

Bartley was a founder director and shareholder of Close Leasing between 2007 and 2017 and more recently founded and built a disruptive digital platform in the retail car sales and finance market, FairSquare.com.

His appointment is effective immediately and he will join the bank’s executive committee, reporting directly to chief executive officer Matthew Wyles.

He replaces Jon Maycock, who has left the business.

Wyles said: “Paul has a potent blend of skills and combines deep technical knowledge of asset finance with a famously compelling leadership style and true entrepreneurial flair. He is what I call a rainmaker and

I am thrilled that Paul has decided to come and join me and the team as we continue to build our momentum based on a highly distinctive and resilient franchise. Paul is a demonstrable champion and ideally qualified to spearhead our drive into the specialist asset finance market.”

Bartley said he was impressed by the bank’s strategy and clear focus on what drives success.

He added: “The board and management have an appetite for innovation and I can see a huge opportunity to build on what Hampshire Trust Bank has already achieved in the asset finance market. The bank has a strong, sound foundation on which to build out new products and expand across new specialist market sectors.”