Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has appointed Sharon Wiltshire as UK Commercial Director, as it looks to grow its commercial finance capability throughout the UK.

First joining BFS in 2001, Wiltshire brings 30 years’ experience in commercial finance, having started her career at RBS Invoice Finance in 1987. She has held a variety of operational and commercial roles with BFS, including Operations Director and Managing Director for the funder’s operations in Leicester, Birmingham and Bristol.

The announcement comes following Edward Winterton’s appointment as UK CEO in April.

Speaking of her appointment, Wilshire said: “I first started at BFS more than 16 years ago and I have seen it go from strength-to-strength, becoming the relationship-based, global funder it is today. We have grown significantly in recent years and our expanding product portfolio is now enabling us to support a growing number of businesses, whatever their ambitions. This is hugely exiting time for BFS and I’m delighted with my new role. I see this as a fantastic opportunity to leverage our expertise and to help more businesses throughout the country grow and thrive.”

Wiltshire leaves her role as Commercial Director – South, and as part of the organisational restructure, Mary Sharp has been appointed as her replacement.

Chartered Accountant, Sharp has over 28 years’ experience in Invoice Finance and first joined BFS as Commercial Director – North in 2016. Sharp has a PHD in Industrial Economics and, prior to joining BFS, held a variety of sales and operations management roles at Lloyds Banking Group and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Deborah Johnson, Head of Operations for BFS Yorkshire, has been appointed as Commercial Director – North.

Johnson has 30 years’ experience in commercial finance, having held operational roles with Alex Lawrie Factors and Five Arrows Business Finance, before joining BFS in 2008 as Operations Manager. In 2015, Johnson was appointed as Head of Operations for BFS’s Yorkshire office.

The changes will take effect from 1 June 2017.

Speaking of the changes, UK CEO for BFS, Edward Winterton said: “As a relationship-based funder, it’s our people that set us apart from the competition and I’m delighted to welcome Sharon, Mary and Deborah into their new roles. We’re a Sunday Times Best Companies employer and we know that only by attracting and retaining leading industry talent can we continue to provide excellent service to new and existing clients. It is testament to the calibre of our people that we’re able to promote from within for all three roles. With our new structure in place, I’m confident that we will be able to continue to grow our support for UK PLC, both in 2017 and beyond.”

BFS supports more than 7,000 UK businesses with its Invoice Finance, Asset Finance, Foreign Exchange, Trade Finance and Export Finance solutions.