Armstrong Watson has appointed Lee Hayes as Corporate Finance Partner for Funding and Debt Advisory, strengthening its expertise in financial solutions.
With an extensive 37-year career in banking and finance, Lee has held key roles at institutions such as The Halifax Building Society, Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Bank of Ireland, Bibby Financial Services, and most recently, Close Brothers Invoice Finance.
During his nearly 13-year tenure as Regional Sales Director at Close Brothers, Lee played a pivotal role in expanding the brand’s presence and loan book across Yorkshire.
At Armstrong Watson, Lee will collaborate closely with clients to assess their current and future funding needs. Drawing on his deep market expertise, he will craft tailored funding strategies that support business growth and long-term financial goals.
Lee’s appointment comes just a month after Stephen Green joined the business as Financial Due Diligence partner and follows a successful 2024 which saw the Corporate Finance team complete 16 M&A transactions, valued at more than £55m.
Lee said: “After a 37-year career in banking and finance, I’m looking forward to putting my vast experience and knowledge to good use by advising Armstrong Watson clients on the best funding package to suit their business needs. I believe offering this service to our clients will remove a lot of the time and resources that can be spent on sourcing the right banking and funding facilities, allowing them to focus on running and growing their business.”
Armstrong Watson is confident that Lee’s expertise will be invaluable in helping clients achieve their business goals through tailored funding solutions.
Mike Kienlen, Armstrong Watson’s Chairman and Head of Restructuring and Insolvency, added: “I am delighted that Lee has joined Armstrong Watson as Funding and Debt Advisory Partner. He brings a wealth of experience in understanding clients’ funding needs. The funding market is always developing, and to have someone of Lee’s experience assisting our clients in getting the right funding solutions for their businesses will be of great benefit.”
Paul Dickson, Chief Executive & Managing Partner commented, “We are very fortunate to have Lee join Armstrong Watson to support our clients with their banking, finance and debt requirements. Lee’s experience will be invaluable to our clients to guide them through the complexities of dealing with financial institutions and sourcing the best solutions for their specific business needs.”
