Ignite Funding Partners (Ignite), the specialist lender to proven, mid-sized UK SMEs, has appointed Mike Hackett as Chief Commercial Partner. In this role, Mike will lead Ignite’s origination across the UK, building the relationships with advisers and investors, and new lending strategies that will underpin its future growth.
Mike will lead the team originating and completing financing for acquisitions, buyouts, refinancings and growth with loans between £1 million and £25 million. He will also strategically lead new product and lending strategies and oversee Ignite’s marketing function, building Ignite’s profile as a leading specialist lender to mid-sized UK SMEs.
Mike has nearly 30 years of experience in banking and alternative lending. He joins Ignite from ThinCats, where he was Chief Commercial Officer and a key member of the team which saw the business surpass £2.5 billion in lending to UK SMEs. He was a member of the executive team which led its sale to Shawbrook. Before ThinCats, he was Head of Business Development for Corporate & Commercial Banking for the North of England at Santander, and at RBS, he led the trading, real estate and healthcare teams across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Ravi Anand, Founder and Managing Partner of Ignite Funding Partners, said: “Mike and I worked closely together scaling ThinCats into a top two UK lender. He has extensive experience in turning a strong proposition and credit expertise into a steady flow of quality transactions, and leading teams to deliver key business objectives. Mike will be a key member of Ignite’s Exco team, ensuring Ignite is poised to be in front of the right businesses from day one.”
“Advisers, sponsors and management teams want two things from a lender: communication and reliability. At Ignite, we will provide flexible funding solutions with a consistent credit appetite and straightforward communication throughout the funding process. We are committed to being long-term partners to the businesses we support. I’m excited to keep challenging the status quo in SME lending, backing strong management teams with the right funding to drive UK growth and entrepreneurship.”
Mike Hackett, Chief Commercial Partner of Ignite Funding Partners