Optimum Finance has appointed Steve Chapman to manage and lead its risk and recoveries activity.

Chapman (pictured) joins the Bristol-based invoice finance provider with more than 40 years’ experience within invoice finance and financial services, much of which was spent with the Lloyds Banking Group. More recently he worked for Hitachi Capital plc.

He returns to the industry having taken early retirement in 2020 and then realising that he missed it too much.

Chapman said: “After having spent a number of years working in invoice finance, I knew I wanted to join a forward-thinking and ambitious business like Optimum, where opinions are heard but also taken on-board.

“The opportunity to share my experience and utilise it to minimise client losses and identify potential risks, whilst ensuring we deliver a great service to both clients and partners is significant and I am thrilled to be part of a team that is passionate about delivering this.”

Ant Persse, CEO of Optimum Finance, added: “We are delighted Steve chose to come out of retirement and even more delighted that he chose to join us. His experience will be invaluable in both protecting us from potential risk, whilst providing our clients with the very highest levels of professional support he is a fantastic addition to our team.”