Touch Financial hires former Funding Options digital boss

The UK’s largest invoice finance broker plans to develop new products and expand into fresh markets.

Finance broker Touch Financial Support has hired a digital boss to help the business push into fresh markets and develop new products.

The London-based firm has poached Richard Leader from business finance marketplace Funding Options, where he  built the marketing team and recently helped rebrand the company.

Touch Financial, which is the UK’s largest invoice finance broker, said Leader’s role will be “to make greater operational efficiencies, improve customer service and offer a more diverse product range”.

The business was founded in 2008, as small firms looked for new forms of credit following the financial crisis after high-street banks cracked down on lending fearing defaults.

Leader, comes with 20 years experience in digital marketing, has worked at City traders CMC Markets and Telecom’s business TalkTalk. He has also advised government departments on digital strategy.

In his new role, he reports to Touch Financial’s chief operating officer Annabel Ah-Lim.

She said: “We have successfully built a team of expert consultants to help our clients source business loans and other alternative finance products, and now Richard brings additional digital expertise with strong product and market knowledge to support further growth.”

Leader added: “With the right digital direction and my fintech background, I’m really looking forward to helping the team reach new markets, pushing the digital agenda and taking the business to the next level.”