The Five Minute Interview with Andy Neo, Relationship Manager, Signature Private Finance

By Tony Sanchez 5th September 2019

Signature Private Finance is a well-funded principal lender offering market leading rates. A flat management structure facilitates quick decisions and certainty of delivery.

We speak to relationship manager Andy Neo:

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

Personally, I feel like making a deal happen is the best thing, seeing a project completed by using everybody working together, really brings a great sense of satisfaction to me.

I like the social aspect of speaking with like minded people, networking, and just being part of a thriving industry.

What keeps you focused?

Not letting people down is one of the main things that keeps me focused. Sometimes within the bridging world, the finer details can make all the difference, especially when working with a short timeframe.

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

Honesty, without honest and transparency, it’s very hard to do this job and be successful at it.

Everybody needs to be on the same page and working towards the same goal, and when you deal with dishonest people it will waste a lot peoples time and money.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I would consider myself a cautious optimist. Its great to always be optimistic with anything you do, but not so much you lose sight of the challenges ahead.

I am an optimist when it comes to supporting Arsenal, although this has proved fatal in the last few years.

What did you want to be as a child?

A professional footballer for Arsenal would have been first choice. I was a keen footballer as a youngster, growing up in Jersey it was slightly different in terms of set up over there.

But the thought of being able to play football as your job and get paid for it sounded like the best deal in the world to me as a child.

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

Brexit, and it pains me to say that because the word alone is starting to drive me crazy.

But the amount of uncertainty it brings to the market, and peoples futures is causing people to not understand fully what the future holds, in my opinion the sooner the process is complete, the better.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I am a big fan of Kevin Hart, he gets me laughing in his stand-up shows. Brokers regularly make me laugh also, nothing better than a chancer trying to get a deal through that has no hope at all.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No, I used to with some other jobs I have had in my past, now I see it as an opportunity for a new working week.

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

Oh where do I start, taller, better looking, a 6 pack. But I would be happy with something as simple as being slightly more academic, I’ve always found I’ve had to work slightly harder than others when it came to assignments and exams when studying for my degree.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Thierry Henry would be up there, Ian Wright, but in the business world I would love to be able to speak in depth with someone like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg, these guys have changed the world with their work ethic and drive, and I would love to be able to pick their brains.