Lloyds strengthens SW team

David Beaumont, new SME area director for South West England has strengthened the support for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking customers with the appointment of ten senior managers.
Previously area director of Devon and Cornwall for five years, David is now responsible for supporting SMEs across Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

David (pictured) will manage one of the bank’s largest relationship management teams of 80, supporting firms with a turnover up to £25 million. He joined Lloyds Banking Group 31 years ago and has since worked in a variety of roles looking after SMEs of all turnovers and industries.

As well as leading the Lloyds Bank team across the South West, David acts as a non-executive director of South West Investment Group, a not-for-profit company that works alongside banks to provide complementary funding for SMEs.

His ten senior managers work closely with relationship managers across the South West, with two teams specialising in the support of agricultural clients, a healthcare team, a specialist property team, and a newly-formed manufacturing team.

Richard Davis, who previously held a role in Devon and Cornwall, has been appointed as senior manager for manufacturing. His team will be looking after 750 manufacturing customers including many in the food and drink sector.

He joined Lloyds Bank 31 years ago after graduating from Birmingham University with a degree in economics and has been involved in the business community in the West Country for more than 25 years.

Gary Himsworth has also taken up a new position as senior manager in Bristol, and alongside his seven relationship directors and managers, is focused on supporting the needs of local businesses and prospective clients. After joining Lloyds 29 years ago he has worked in a variety of frontline roles supporting business.

David Beaumont, SME area director South West England, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It is important to have a strong frontline presence, and by building on what is already recognised as a very stable and experienced team, I have every confidence that at Lloyds Bank we will continue to support the aims and ambitions of our existing and prospective clients.

“Following consistent growth in demand from farmers for lending and specialist banking guidance, over the past five years the bank has strengthened its specialist agriculture team by more than 20 per cent, including a number of new key appointments in the South West of England.

“Through the knowledge and experience of our teams we can offer tailored facilities to suit firms’ ambitions, including trade finance to support manufacturers and exporters, and Government-backed initiatives such as the Funding for Lending Scheme where we continue to offer a one per cent discount on the life of a loan.”