Stephen brings nearly 30 years’ commercial banking experience, with his most recent role being at Principality Commercial, where he focused on helping Welsh residential developers secure funding to deliver housing across region — prior to this, he held senior positions at Handelsbanken, Santander, and Allied Irish Bank.

The appointment follows a £30m commitment from the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) to provide credit for SME housebuilders and developers to build housing through Pluto Finance’s local impact investment programme — Stephen will now play a role in deploying this funding.

Commenting on his appointment, Stephen said: “I am delighted to be joining Pluto Finance at an exciting time for the company as it launches its local impact investment programme with WPP.

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“The firm’s innovative approach, working closely with local authorities to provide meaningful local impact opportunities, is a fantastic opportunity to support developers across Wales.

“I look forward to working with the team to help deliver much-needed funding solutions that will drive growth and regeneration in the region.”

Justin Faiz, CEO at Pluto Finance, added: “Stephen’s extensive experience in and strong knowledge of the Welsh developer market make him a valuable addition to our team.

“His appointment significantly strengthens our presence in Wales and means we can hit the ground running in deploying the capital recently provided by WPP and other investors.

“This will help housebuilders access the capital needed to build affordable homes and support local economies and regional regeneration.”