Mike Richards entered the Asset Finance and Leasing market in 1980, having spent the previous 10 years in mainstream branch banking. His Asset Finance career started as a new business representative for Mercantile Credit in South Wales, and subsequently undertook branch management roles throughout the South West.

In 1989, he joined the newly-formed Barclays Asset Finance Sales Aid division in Guildford, where he undertook specific management for senior accounts in the construction and materials handling sectors.

In 1992, Mike moved to Barclays Asset Finance head office located in Basingstoke, to join the National Accounts team, to develop and implement highly commercial new business opportunities by providing innovative and fresh approaches to sales generation.

By the end of 1994 he was successful in negotiating a joint marketing arrangement with MAN, the high-profile German truck manufacturer, and went on to successfully manage that relationship for the next five years.

Mike left Barclays to join MAN UK Limited, initially on a five-year contract, to develop an in-house vendor finance company to support the new and used commercial sales aspirations of the manufacturer. After leaving this organisation at the end of 2004, Mike has established his own consultancy, specialising in structured asset finance packaging, and developing and delivering specific dealer-based finance training programmes in order to maximise finance introduction through improved knowledge and skills.

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