The Five Minute Interview with Ian Harrison, Operations Director, Affirmative

By Tony Sanchez 7th June 2016

Affirmative are a mainstay lender in the short-term finance market with over a decade’s worth of experience.

They have provided bridging and development loans that have helped property developers, property investors, self-build enthusiasts, financial intermediaries, and many other businesses and individuals when they needed it most.

We speak to Operations Director, Ian Harrison:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business?

I know it’s a cliché but every day is different.

What keeps you focused?

Coming up with new and innovative ideas to stay one step ahead of the competition.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

The same amount of passion and desire that I have.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

A mixture of both, I class myself as a realist.

What did you want to be as a child?

Coming from Liverpool, I would have loved to have been Kenny Dalglish, scoring goals in front of the Kop but I never had a real plan until I hit 18 when I realised I had an aptitude for numbers and sales.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging finance industry in the coming months?

I know people are worried about which way Europe will go, but I also think any further regulation will create more opportunities for the regulated companies.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Listening to the tales, trials and tribulations of my children’s lives without them realising I have been there myself and done it all.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No, I treat them as I treat every other day. Up early, healthy breakfast and out for the day.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would have the ability to time travel, to allow myself to have one more conversation with my dad whom was too ill in his later life.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

My mum and dad.