Clydesdale Strengthens Management Team

26/2/2009

Clydesdale Bank has strengthened its business banking team in Southampton with two senior promotions.

In their new roles, Graeme Andrew and Andrew Wright will play a key part in shaping the Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Grosvenor Square future growth in the Solent business region as Senior Business Partners.

The pair have worked at the FSC since Clydesdale expanded its presence into southern England five years ago and will now head up their own teams.

Working closely with Clydesdale Bank customers – known as Members – Graeme Andrew will focus on the provision of Specialist and Structured Finance to the corporate mid-market. Andrew Wright will develop Clydesdale’s activities in the business banking, property and agricultural sectors.

John Anderson said: “Graeme and Andrew have been with the Southampton FSC since day one and have been integral to our success over the last five years – their promotions reflect that.

“Graeme and Andrew’s promotions demonstrate that we have a very settled team here at Clydesdale. We do not need to look elsewhere for senior appointments because we already have the talent within our own ranks.

“The same team has been together for a long time now and that continuity benefits our Members enormously because they are able to build up trust, establish strong relationships and draw on considerable local knowledge.”

Twenty-five members of staff, including a number of specialist partners are based at the Southampton office. It is one of a network of 10 FSCs across the southern region, which together have lent well over £1 billion to support businesses in the last five years.

Each FSC has considerable decision-making autonomy and infrastructure devolved back to management teams on the ground – meaning that approximately 90 per cent of business decisions are made independently within the FSC itself instead of deferring to a centralised head office.

John Anderson added: “Our greater autonomy means we have the flexibility to react to local conditions and individual business circumstances, and is one of the reasons for our success since arriving in Southampton.

“Now, with Graeme and Andrew taking on extra responsibility, we are in an even stronger position moving forward which is great news for our Members.”