Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has appointed former Lloyds Commercial Finance Client and Collateral Management director Ian Lomas.

BFS is the country’s largest independent invoice financier, providing upwards of £388 million to businesses in the UK and handling annual client turnover of £4.9 billion.

Lomas (pictured) will join the business on 1 June as niche products director, reporting directly to UK chief executive, David Postings.

Postings said the appointment forms part of BFS’ expansion strategy. He said: “Ian is an experienced senior executive with a history of success. I’m delighted to welcome him to BFS where I’m sure he will have an immediate impact.

“This is a key appointment and having someone of Ian’s calibre will undoubtedly help us to take our business to the next level and further enhance the vital support we provide to businesses in the UK.”

Lomas – who has 22 years’ experience in the invoice finance market – will be responsible for the funder’s lease finance, trade, international and construction products as it looks to further compete with the banks in lending to businesses.

He said: “BFS clearly has ambitious plans for growth and will play an important part in supporting small and medium sized enterprises over the coming years. For this reason, it will undoubtedly be an exciting place to be and I’m very much looking forward to working with my new teams and the wider BFS family.”

Lomas added: “BFS is an extremely progressive organisation and it has been making a significant dent in the market share of banks over recent years. I’m delighted to be joining at a time when the business is growing.”