Valuation specialist Validate has appointed Louise Shute as managing director as it continues to invest in its people, systems and services to support growing demand from specialist lenders and challenger banks.
Shute (pictured) joins the business with a background in senior finance and operational leadership, having previously held roles across finance, construction, care, automotive and software businesses.
A fellow chartered accountant, she trained with Mazars and KPMG before moving into industry, where she held senior finance positions with several well-known brands.
She later became head of finance within a diversified group spanning construction, care homes, automotive and software before establishing and leading the finance function for a private equity-backed care home group.
Most recently, Shute was chief financial officer at Hollybank Trust, a £26 million multi-site care organisation employing more than 750 staff. Her responsibilities extended beyond finance to include HR, IT and estates, while also leading acquisitions and bank refinancing.
Throughout her career, Shute has led multiple bank refinancing processes, taking responsibility for covenant compliance and lender reporting.
Validate said this experience has given her a strong understanding of the governance, reporting and assurance requirements of lenders, alongside experience of organisational change and business transformation.
The appointment comes as Validate expands its proposition in response to growing demand for fast, RICS-compliant desktop valuations, alongside services including valuation auditing, progress reports and loan book reviews.
Stephen Todd, founder of Validate, said: “Louise brings exactly the calibre of leadership and operational rigour we need as Validate continues to grow.
“Having managed lender relationships, refinancing processes and covenant reporting throughout her career, she understands the importance of providing lenders with reliable information and assurance to support decision-making.
“Her track record of building resilient, scalable operations across a range of ambitious businesses will be invaluable as we invest in new systems and expand our service offering.”
Shute said: “I’m excited to be joining Validate and building on the strong foundations that Stephen and the team have created.
“What attracted me to the business was its reputation for quality, the expertise of its people and its commitment to client service.
“My background has focused on helping organisations grow through strong leadership, operational improvement and investment in people and technology.
“As the business continues to develop, my priority will be to support our team, strengthen our capabilities and ensure we continue to deliver the high levels of service, expertise and responsiveness that our clients value.”
