Clydesdale Bank announces two new senior appointments
Clydesdale Bank has announced the appointment of Alison McGregor as Regional Director for its Corporate & Structured Finance (CSF) division in Scotland. Graham Cunning becomes National Director for Acquisition Finance, across the UK.
Alison will lead a large team of specialists based in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow responsible for sourcing, structuring and completing transactions such as management buyouts and acquisitions and for managing and expanding Clydesdale’s extensive portfolio of corporate clients.
She joined Clydesdale Bank in 2009 and was formerly Head of Corporate and Commercial Banking and Deputy Managing Director for Barclays Bank in Scotland.
Alison said: "The corporate banking and acquisition finance markets are key for Clydesdale Bank, and for Scotland. Our focus in the year ahead is very much on expanding our client base in both areas.
"The impact of the recession on banks' balance sheets has meant that some have lacked the appetite to support business growth and fund transactions. We're already seeing a strong pipeline of deals coming through in the first quarter of 2011 and we believe there has never been a better time to push forward our acquisition finance business.
"We've built a strong and experienced team in Corporate and Structured Finance and I'm relishing this opportunity of further enhancing our support for both our existing customers and for new clients in corporate Scotland."
Graham Cunning takes on the newly created role of National Director for Acquisition Finance and will focus on further developing the bank's acquisition finance business throughout the UK.
His work will include co-ordinating the bank's acquisition finance teams in London and the South, Yorkshire, the North West, the Midlands and Scotland, strengthening relationships with private equity houses and advisors, and developing new business opportunities.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Graham spent 18 years working with big four accountancy firms. He trained with KPMG in Glasgow, before moving to PwC, first in Pittsburgh, USA then in London and Scotland. During his accountancy career he has worked in assurance and fraud investigation, corporate insolvency and then specialised in corporate finance, advising private equity houses, management teams and corporates on deals such as mergers and acquisitions, disposals, buy-outs and fundraising.
His experience covers a wide variety of sectors including oil and gas, food and drink, logistics and distribution, retail, business services, biopharma, manufacturing and industrial products. Graham joined Clydesdale Bank in March 2003 to set up its acquisition finance team in Scotland, which is now widely recognised as one of the most highly rated north of the border.
Graham said, "I'm delighted to be taking on this new, UK- wide role heading up Acquisition Finance, which shows the bank's continued commitment to the Private Equity market. It will allow me to bring a UK perspective to our Scottish customers and the deals market."