Collaboration
Working together is when great things happen. Strong communication, knowledge sharing, and nurturing relationships helps us get the best results for customers.
A UK lending platform that turns ambitions into reality
Overview
For over 35 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping SMEs and mid-sized companies secure the funding they need. As an independent UK business lender, we provide customised and flexible finance solutions with the speed and agility your business requires.
Renowned for our upfront and honest approach, we prioritise empowering businesses with the confidence and freedom to thrive, all while delivering a personalised service. That’s why over 50,000 businesses place their trust in us.
Our head office is located in Chester, North West of England, with additional offices in London and Glasgow. Wherever you are in the UK, we are ready to partner with you.
As a financing affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC (WOGA), White Oak UK is able to access investor capital to support White Oak UK’s lending activities to complement its funding from banks and other financial institutions
Founded in 2007, WOGA is an SEC-registered investment advisor and private credit firm that provides small and middle market businesses with term loans, asset-based loans, invoice factoring, trade finance, equipment financing and treasury management. With over $20 billion of capital deployed since inception across over a thousand companies throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, we understand the unique challenges facing small and middle market businesses and we offer a full suite of flexible lending products and services to meet all of your commercial requirements.
As part of WOGA’s strategy in deploying investors’ funds to the SME market, it has created and acquired, on behalf of its institutional investors, a number of affiliate companies in recent years that bring specialist product, origination, underwriting and servicing capabilities. These include two factoring companies in the US including White Oak Commercial Finance, the US’s 5th largest factor, and one of the largest non-bank SME lenders in the UK, LDF Group, in June 2018, which has since been incorporated in to White Oak UK.
Our Values
Agility
A culture of agility and constant improvement means we can respond to customer demand. We listen, we adapt, we change and we’re always looking for new and better ways.
Respect
Doing the right thing is key to building trust and meaningful partnerships. Integrity, respect, and professionalism are non-negotiable at White Oak UK.
Excellence
Every one of us is committed to delivering the very best. We hire top talent and accountability and empowerment helps our team reach the highest standards.
Our Experience
4 hours
Average decision turnaround
70%
Repeat customers
£60k
Average loan size
Our Team
Jean-Marc Torre
Chief Executive Officer
Jean-Marc is our overall decision maker. He’s responsible for the oversight of business operations, strategic direction, and organisational governance. Jean-Marc also leads on business growth, the investment process and commercial decision making. He has more than 25 years’ experience at executive level, holding key positions at BNP Paribas, McKinsey and Bank of the West.
Andy Davies
Managing Director Leases & Loans
Andy is responsible for our origination sales channels including Direct, Field, Intermediary and External Funding. He is also a key decision maker for determining commercial appetite and delivering new products to the market. Andy has more than 30 years’ experience in Financial Services, including 20 years at White Oak UK where he held senior positions including Director of Sales with LDF Group prior to its acquisition.
Melinda Crocker
Chief Operating Officer
Melinda is responsible for delivering the execution of our goals and overseeing the day-to-day business operations including credit strategy, risk based pricing, IT and in-life deal management. She is also responsible for the management of White Oak UK's portfolio. Melinda has more than 30 years’ experience in Financial Services and has held senior positions at RBS and Bank of America.
Pawel Lo Giudice
Chief Financial Officer
Pawel is responsible for the financial management of the firm including Financial Reporting, Tax Compliance, FP&A and Financial Control. He is also responsible for supporting and advising on strategic direction. Pawel has more than 15 years of Financial Services experience, and was previously a Director at KPMG.
Douglas Banks
Director of Treasury
Doug is responsible for Cash Management, Funding and Liquidity and oversees the operations of the Treasury function. He has more than 25 years’ experience in Financial Services and has held senior positions at Virgin Money, RBS and Citi Bank.
Ross Rutherford
General Counsel
Ross is responsible for oversight of all legal and regulatory matters at White Oak UK and serves as Company Secretary. He also provides support and guidance for strategic and financial transactions. Ross has more than 15 years’ experience in Financial Services and previously worked as a solicitor at Harper MacLeod LLP.
Nick Isaacs
Chief Risk & Compliance Officer
Nick is responsible for managing the risk governance framework as well as all regulatory and financial crime requirements. He has more than 20 years’ Financial Services experience and has held senior positions at American Express and Premium Credit.
Chris Heeley
Chief Credit Officer
Chris is responsible for Credit Risk and Underwriting and holds the ultimate credit mandate for large value lending decisions. Chris has over 20 years’ experience in Financial Services.
Careers
Join our team
Want to be part of a team that makes a real difference? Find out more about life at White Oak UK.
Memberships
Awards
Intermediaries
Are you an ambitious intermediary?
Become a White Oak UK intermediary and you’ll be an extension of our team. Together we can find funding solutions that work for your clients and for you.
Our Partners
The breadth of our funding sources means we have the flexibility to support mid-sized businesses across the full credit spectrum, offering mid-market loans as well as acting as a small business lender. So there’s more agility and less bureaucracy from proposal to payout.
“We pride ourselves on cultivating authentic business relationships with our funding panel, enabling us to thoroughly grasp their lending appetites and requirements. This commitment ensures that our customers ultimately receive the best-tailored products on the market, perfectly suited to their specific needs”
Steph Reynolds
Packager