A Newport-based independent finance firm has appointed a new group chief financial officer to support its continued growth.

Mark Tweed is joining Henry Howard Finance next month, when he will take up responsibility as group CFO and head of legal.

He joins from Opel Vauxhall Finance, where he has held various pan-European CFO and CEO roles and has spent the last 16 years in the asset finance sector.

Mark said: “Henry Howard Finance is at an extremely exciting point of its evolution; growing originations significantly since commencing funded business, developing its highly-successful broker model and building out operational capability to continue to deliver best in class service to its customers.

"I am very proud to be joining the team and I look forward to helping drive the future success of the business”.

The appointment follows the company’s announcement of exceptional half year figures, highlighting income from asset-based lending activities up 30 per cent year-on-year alongside a year-on-year increase of 50 per cent in own book lending.

Mark Catton, CEO of Henry Howard Finance, which is based at Langstone Business Park, said: “Mark’s appointment is a real coup for us and I’m delighted he’s joining us.

"He is an outstanding talent and brings a wealth of experience and fantastic reputation in the sector, and locally. We continue to strengthen our team, having added more than a dozen new key appointments over the past six months or so, as we invest in our platform and position ourselves as a leading funder to SMEs.”

The current CFO, Mark Burn, will be leaving the firm to take up a role closer to his family home.

Mark Catton said “We are extremely grateful to Mark for all he has achieved during his four years with the company, and he leaves with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.”