Property finance specialist MSP Capital has announced the appointment of a highly experienced leader from the financial services sector as its Chief Executive.

Leigh Bartlett has joined the south coast-based lender bringing more than 20 years’ director-level experience in the financial and technology industries.

He has held senior roles, as either CEO or Chief Financial Officer, at companies such as Portuguese bank Novo Banco, Masthaven Bank, FNZ Group, NatWest Group and Westpac New Zealand. He has also previously been the chairman of a joint venture between a major bank and a retailer.

Over his years in leadership roles, Leigh has worked extensively with private equity-owned institutions in the banking, technology and wealth management industries.

The announcement of his MSP Capital appointment follows several months of getting to know the business and working with colleagues to ensure the continuity of leadership and support the creation of a new growth strategy.

Leigh said:

“I am excited to lead MSP Capital and look forward to working even more closely with the talented team to enhance our capability to deliver exceptional financing solutions for customers across the UK.”

Leigh’s appointment will see him work closely with the long-standing leadership team of Adam Tovey, Lee Merrifield, Nicky Hollamby and Daniel Curtis, all of whom have played a fundamental role in driving MSP Capital’s success.

As part of the leadership transition, former Joint Managing Director Martin Higgins is stepping back from his operational role at the business after 30 years of building and leading MSP Capital to the size and scale it is today.

Furthermore, Paul Miracca, also a former Joint Managing Director, will move into a consultancy role, continuing to offer his expertise to the business.

Under Martin’s leadership, MSP Capital underwent a significant transformation. The company shifted from being family-owned to privately-owned in 2011, a pivotal move facilitated by the collaboration of Martin, Paul and former director David Capra.

Subsequently, MSP Capital expanded its funding lines and entered a new phase as a private equity-backed entity with the addition of Cabot Square Capital as an equity partner and majority shareholder in 2018.

Richard McDougall, Partner at Cabot Square Capital, said:

“With his breadth of experience in financial strategy and leadership, Leigh will play a critical role as MSP Capital continues to strengthen its delivery of outstanding service and specialist funding solutions. His proven track record in driving financial success and process optimisation aligns perfectly with the firm’s goals for sustainable growth."

“We thank Martin and Paul for their hard work in contributing to MSP Capital’s success over many years as a specialist, non-regulated lender for the property sector. Both Martin and Paul remain shareholders, and back the remaining management team to lead the business forward to future successes.”