Ben Barbanel – OakNorth Bank's head of debt finance

Mr McGregor brings over 12 years of banking and finance experience, most recently serving as relationship director for high-growth businesses at Santander.

He joins a growing team in Glasgow, led by senior director Fraser McPhail, bringing its headcount to three. The team is focused on providing trading facilities, acquisition and buyout finance, and growth capital to businesses across Scotland.

Since launching in 2015, OakNorth has lent over £460 million to Scottish businesses, including recent deals with Ambassador Group, Caissa Holdings, Wavegarden Scotland, Bruntwood SciTech, and House of Gods.

Ben Barbanel, head of debt finance at OakNorth, said: “We’re delighted to have Michael join our Glasgow based Debt Finance team that is focussed on supporting growth businesses across the entire length and breadth of Scotland.

“The region is an integral part of OakNorth’s growth strategy, hence our decision to open our new office in Glasgow last summer and get a team on the ground there, led by senior director of debt finance, Fraser McPhail.

“Since then, we have supported a number of other businesses across the region, including the Ambassador Group and Caissa Holdings. We never wanted to be ‘day-trippers’, doing deals from afar, so by boosting the number regional experts situated in the local market, we can further deepen our support for Scottish businesses.

“Having spent 12+ years working in the banking and finance industry, Michael’s experience will help us strengthen our corporate lending, including the provision of acquisition and buyout finance, as well as roll outs and recaps for growth businesses across Scotland.”