The Five Minute Interview with Andrew Robinson, CEO, Arc & Co.

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Andrew Robinson, CEO of Arc & Co.

Arc & Co. is a specialist debt advisory with headquarters in Mayfair, London providing specialist advice on real estate, marine & aviation assets.

Arc & Co. was awarded Development Finance Broker of the Year at the Business Moneyfacts Awards 2019 for the third consecutive year.

We speak to CEO, Andrew Robinson:

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

Every deal is different, and the variety keeps things interesting and challenging.

With development deals, you can be involved from concept through to completion and I take great pleasure walking past a complete project and thinking I played a part in that.

At the core of everything I do, is helping somebody to grow their business and by hopefully working with them on a long-term basis, I then see their business evolve and flourish, which is really satisfying.

What keeps you focused?

When it comes to clients, not letting them down and helping them to make their vision a reality. When it comes to the Arc & Co. business, the responsibility of training and nurturing my employees to enable them to fulfil their career ambitions.

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

  • Competitiveness to win
  • Loyalty
  • Confidence but coupled with a down-to-earth nature
  • A desire to learn and be a part of a team

 

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I am a realistic optimist! You need optimism to encourage your team to stay positive and to drive a business forward, but this needs to also be in a realistic way.

What did you want to be as a child?

A fighter pilot as I grew up watching Top Gun!

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

Confidence and certainty in the market on both the client and lender side. If the uncertainty continues, then funding lines from the US and the Middle East will reduce their exposure and subsequently, they will lower their gearing levels.

Whereas the UK retail banks will be under pressure to keep liquidity in the market. At Arc & Co., we feel it necessary to establish where funds are coming from, as a deal that completes in 2-3 months might not happen if the funding line routes back to say the US or the Middle East.

We need to make sure the lenders can lend in 2-3 months’ time when the monies are needed by our client.

Who or what makes you laugh?

The British television sitcom ‘Royle Family’. I have a dry sense of humour!

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No. When running a business, you have to be mentally tough to deal with any situation. Whether the situation is good or bad, you deal with things head on.

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

Coordination. I always wanted to play top-level sports!

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Sir Ranulph Fiennes. it would be great to understand the mental strength needed to complete challenges and survive in situations he has put himself in.

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