The Funding Operation (TFO) has bolstered its business development team with the appointment of Bob Francis.

Most recently with HSBC, Francis has been tasked with further developing business in the South East region. TFO provides access for intermediaries to a host of specialist and private lenders for commercial and bridging finance.

Rhiannon Gray-Minton, managing director at TFO, said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of Bob Francis in what are still very challenging times. We are currently bucking the trend with significant increases in applications and we feel the time is right to ensure that our business partners in the South East of the country receive our full support in further developing their businesses.””