Tell us about your role at Danske Bank
I’m part of Danske’s Corporate & Business Banking leadership team. I’m head of a team of eight people, including experienced corporate managers, corporate assistants and a risk coach. We’re proud to play our part in the success of many of Northern Ireland’s indigenous companies, with the support of our local specialist teams in markets, asset finance, invoice finance, trade finance, cash management and sustainability, as well as our local credit assessment team.
What was your route into your current role?
We talk a lot about ‘squiggly careers’ in Danske Bank, and the start of my own career is a good example! I started out in aerospace engineering and spent a year with BAE Systems working on projects such as the Eurofighter.
I moved into banking by joining the RBS graduate programme with Ulster Bank, where I completed my Chartered Accountancy qualification. I spent nine years in its corporate banking team before joining Danske Bank in 2018.
What are you seeing in your customer base? Are your customers investing for growth?
There’s no doubt that the past few years have presented a multitude of new business challenges, including pressures around supply chains, high inflation and higher interest rates, availability of labour, and global political uncertainty. That has meant a more subdued lending environment in some sectors. However, we’re seeing more existing and new customers now actioning investment plans – and we’re here to support them.
A recent example is MB Truck & Van NI, which opened a new £6m aftersales facility in Dungannon, leading to the creation of 20 new jobs for the area. We also worked with UK Export Finance to support Portadown-headquartered The Deluxe Group with a £10m funding package that played a key role in enabling the company to secure one of its biggest-ever export contracts.
We’re very much here to support local businesses as they seek opportunities to grow, whether that’s enhancing their physical facilities, purchasing new equipment, or expanding their business into new markets.
How does Danske Bank support NI’s larger businesses, beyond funding support?
In the first nine months of the year, we backed the Northern Ireland business community by providing over £490m in business lending approvals. The financial support to help businesses innovate and grow is essential – however, we see our role as a trusted partner, rather than simply as a lender.
The majority of our customers have banked with us for many years, and we seek to add value at every stage of their journey. For example, our colleagues who specialise in fraud and cyber security and in financial wellbeing deliver awareness sessions to businesses and their employees every week. We are also actively continuing to help customers make the transition to a more sustainable future, including through our Climate Action Programme alongside Business in the Community.
What role has the Chartered Accountants Ulster Society played in your own career?
The Society has played a key role in my career, not just in developing my skills but in terms of access to an unrivalled professional network. The relationships I’ve built have led to many valuable referrals and partnerships over the years.
Danske Bank has long been a sponsor of the Ulster Society and it’s been great to be part of the organising committee for the Annual Conference this year, always a highlight in the calendar for members.
Outside of banking, what are your main interests?
Sport has always been a big passion – I’m a huge rugby and football fan. Although, I no longer have time to watch as many games as I used to thanks to my 18-month-old! As a Liverpool supporter, it’s been a positive start to the season and hopefully my son will be able to enjoy celebrating more of those type of performances in the coming years than I did during my childhood!