Recognise Bank appoints new MD of Commercial Banking

New SME lender Recognise Bank has appointed Ian Workman as its Managing Director (MD) of Commercial Banking. Workman joins from Barclays Bank where he spent the bulk of his 30-year career in financial services, the last five years of which he was Head of SME Banking Relationships in the UK.

He will oversee Recognise Bank’s entire commercial lending offering, working with its network of regional Relationship Managers, helping to chart the future course for the bank as it goes from strength to strength following the removal of it deposit restrictions and full authorisation in the summer.

At Barclays Workman led the delivery of business banking relationships, products and services to SME customers, overseeing its Regional Director structure and the national coverage of Relationship Managers, as well as being one of the senior leaders in Barclays UK Business Banking. He also led on Barclays’ strategy for Diversity and Inclusion in the Business Banking group, a subject he is passionate about and is currently studying for an MA in Equality and Diversity.

Jason Oakley, CEO of Recognise Bank, said of Workman’s appointment “I am delighted that Ian has decided to join us to help drive our commercial banking. Not only will he be a real asset to the business, being able to attract somebody of Ian’s calibre and experience shows just how compelling Recognise is in the world of business banking.”

Recognise Bank was created to offer SMEs relationship-led service and support, backed by the latest cloud computer technology to make lending decisions quicker and speed up access to funds, via a network of relationship managers based in regional hubs in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.