The Five Minute Interview with Russell Martin, Managing Director, Finance 4 Business

By Tony Sanchez 25th January 2016

Multiple award winning Finance 4 Business is recognised as one of the UK’s Best Commercial Finance Brokers. They have been operating for many years and are Ambassadors for the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB).

We speak to managing director, Russell Martin:

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

I thrive on the fast-paced nature of the industry and the fact that seldom are any two deals the same. To say you meet some characters in the short-term sector is an understatement!

What keeps you focussed?

Being busy… opportunities arise and Finance 4 Business changes, it feels, on a weekly basis. I am literally not allowed to lose focus.

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

Honesty, integrity and transparency runs through the very core of Finance 4 Business.

After which we have had great success recruiting quality staff from High Street Banks and training them to become a broker.

Experience shows that it takes 6 to 9 months to be converted from a corporate to a broker but the output thereafter is fantastic.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I don’t think you can be a pessimist in the business! Being the eternal optimist I do ensure key decisions are discussed with the Management Team, whose collective glass is generally less full than mine!

What did you want to be as a child?

I didn’t really have a defined career in mind as a child. I have had many opportunities over the years but cannot think of a job I would enjoy more than what I am doing now.

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

Without question the MCD. Brokers and lenders that have prepared will be stronger as a result. I personally feel that there are a larger number of brokers not prepared for the changes than anyone is forecasting.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Most things after a few shandies…

Do you dread Monday mornings?

I am a bit of a saddo in the fact that I love Mondays. We have a sales meeting very first thing, followed by a management meeting afterwards.

The content of both motivates me to keep progressing the business and the energy that runs through the office carries you through despite any weekend hangovers.

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

To be a little more patient.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Being a disconsolate Aston Villa fan it would have to be Ron Saunders and Remi Garde – I would leave them to it and let Ron do the educational piece to Remi!