Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Funding Circle has anouncesd the appointment of Rob Straathof as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), subject to regulatory approval.
Straathof brings a combination of deep SME finance expertise, credit experience and a track record of leading fintech businesses. The appointment follows a search process led by the Nomination Committee, supported by an independent executive search firm, which considered a strong field of candidates.
Straathof previously spent a decade as CEO of Liberis, leading its growth from a UK small business lender with a single partner, into a global embedded finance platform offering multiple products and providing over $4bn of funding to more than 100,000 small businesses. He is currently CEO of Grover, a leading European technology subscription platform based in Germany.
Straathof will succeed Lisa Jacobs, whose intention to step down was announced on 8 September 2026. Rob will join in H1 2027, with his date of appointment to be confirmed in due course. In the meantime, Lisa will continue to lead the business and ensure a smooth and orderly handover, before stepping down no later than September 2027.
Ken Stannard, Chair of Funding Circle, said: “Rob brings a deep understanding of small businesses, strong credit expertise and a proven track record of leading fintech businesses, in particular his decade scaling Liberis into a multi-product platform. He shares our conviction that small businesses deserve better access to finance, and has the experience and passion to build on our strong platform for growth. On behalf of the Board, I look forward to welcoming him to Funding Circle.”
Lisa Jacobs, CEO at Funding Circle, said: “Over the last 16 years, Funding Circle has established itself as the leading finance partner for SMEs across the UK. I’m really pleased Rob will be taking up the reins to continue our mission, supported by our experienced and talented leadership and broader team of Circlers. He shares our deep commitment to backing SMEs to get the finance they need to grow and run their businesses and I’m looking forward to working with him to ensure a smooth handover.”
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