Metro Bank has announced two new appointments to its asset finance team.

James Harrowsmith has been appointed as head of corporate transport and Nova Everidge to the position of head of operations and sales support.

Both will report directly to Nathan Mollett, head of asset finance.

Harrowsmith has been tasked with launching and driving forward the corporate transport sector and Everidge will be responsible for developing the asset finance support and operations functions.

Metro Bank committed earlier this year to support the professional services sector with £30m of funding over the next 18 months, supported by LDF, the UK’s largest independent provider of SME finance solution.

Mollett said: “Appointing Nova and James is testament to the strength and breadth of our asset finance business and will help support our future growth. They bring a wealth of experience in their respective fields and a real commitment to helping businesses expand and develop, I’d like to warmly welcome both of them.”

Harrowsmith joins Metro Bank from BLME where he was head of commercial vehicle leasing, prior to which he was in-house at Eddie Stobart as its asset finance manager. He has also worked at Close Brothers and spent over 10 years at Lloyds Bank.

He said: “By focussing on customer service and culture, Metro Bank’s asset finance business is witnessing significant and sustained growth. I look forward to using my extensive experience both on the funding side and in-house to strengthen the corporate transport function.”

Everidge was previously head of internal sales and support at Aldermore and also headed up the lender’s operations function, as well as spending time at Close Brothers, ING Lease UK and GE Capital European Equipment Finance.

She said: “I’m thrilled to be joining an innovative organisation like Metro Bank. Its culture and vision means that it’s really shaking up the industry, and I’m delighted to be part of the team revolutionising British banking.”