14 May 2020
BZ, the UK asset based lending specialist, today announces the appointment of Kevin Yates as Risk Director, the latest of a string of key appointments. Kevin will be responsible for BZ’s risk management framework and for building on the existing culture of strong risk identification and oversight, challenge and mitigation as the company continues to drive its plans to deliver larger and more complex transactions. BZ provides flexible facilities up to a £150m maximum hold.
This new high profile appointment comes days after the announcement that Robert Wakeford has joined the business as Managing Director, UK Sales.
Kevin also joins BZ from Leumi ABL, where he was Director of Risk & Compliance. A board director and senior manager with over twenty years’ experience in asset based lending, Kevin’s expertise in risk, credit, relationship management, operations and compliance is complemented by his experience of managing people, process, stakeholders and projects. He has a detailed working knowledge of varied multi-jurisdictional financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions. Kevin has been awarded the International Compliance Association Diploma in International Anti-Money Laundering.
Prior to joining Leumi ABL in 2009, Kevin has held leadership roles at GE Commercial Finance and Landsbanki Commercial Finance where he worked closely with the directors of BZ.
Kevin Yates, Risk Director, BZ, said, “I feel delighted and privileged to be reunited with colleagues whom I’ve known and respected for over 20 years. The strong appeal of working with the existing team and building a portfolio together with Rob Wakeford is particularly exciting for all of us. We want BZ to become known as the place where debt advisory and private equity businesses go in order to have deals delivered. When you move outside typical market structures towards larger and more complex transactions, the competition remains robust but the requirement for intellectual rigour is heightened.”
Commenting on the appointment, Brent Osborne, CEO, said: “The dual appointments of Kevin Yates and Robert Wakeford, this month, is a real coup for BZ. With decades of ABL experience and an outstanding track record in risk management and compliance, Kevin is a superb addition to our team. For Risk to get involved at the coal face with deals, which Kevin embraces, is an incredibly important aspect of the entrepreneurial culture we foster and results in pragmatic and creative solutions, founded on sound risk analysis and core principles. This enables us to match our pioneering resolve, with enhanced resilience as we continue to drive our ambitious agenda for growth.”