British Business Bank appoints new CEO

The British Business Bank has appointed Louis Taylor as its new CEO.

Taylor is currently CEO of UK Export Finance, the government’s export credit agency, overseeing the department end its financial support for overseas fossil fuel projects. He will take up the role from 1 October.

The former Standard Chartered COO takes over from interim CEO Catherine Lewis La Torre who in March decided not to apply for the permanent position. She will continue in the post until the autumn.

True supercharges team with media duo

True, a consumer-focused investment and innovation firm, has appointed two new principals to work on its early-stage investment arm.

Mike Martin has joined the team as principal, following a 12-year tenure at Sky, where he headed up Sky Ventures. He will lead the team alongside Joe Seager who joins the team from Virgin where he worked in its corporate strategy and development team.

The duo will be tasked to find, invest, and support the latest breakthrough retail brands and technologies. The appointments ensure the firm can deploy the remainder of its £40m early-stage fund, which it raised in autumn of last year.

Paul Cocker, True CEO and co-founder said: “Following the launch of our third early-stage fund, we’re excited to bolster the team with these new hires. With Mike and Joe joining the team, we’re better placed than ever to discover and back the best entrepreneurs and breakthrough brands.”

New partner at Albion Capital

Jane Reddin, the current talent and platform director at Albion Capital, has become a partner of the business and a member of the management board.

As part of Albion’s investment team, Reddin’s role is to help the VCT portfolio companies strengthen their management teams and scale into category defining businesses.

Reddin said: “It’s very inspiring to recognise that, in my 25 years of working in early-stage companies, we are experiencing a movement which places genuine value on human capital as a lever of growth.

“I believe that we now have a recognised level of appreciation in our industry that strategic organisational and talent advisory expertise is fundamental to supporting both investment decisions and scaling. Nothing demonstrates this better than having a seat at the table as a partner.”