Ampla Finance, the legal finance provider, has appointed Natalie Player and Deborah Ward, both qualified lawyers, as Commercial Director and Partnership Director respectively.
Player takes up the role of Commercial Director, heading up the business’ partnerships team, along with taking responsibility for developing new and existing products for the market. Ward has been appointed as Partnership Director, taking responsibility for Ampla’s relationships with law firms and solicitors across the North of England and the Midlands.
Both Player and Ward join Ampla from Novitas Loans, where they were Account Directors for the last four years. Before Player’s time at the business, she trained and practised as a Solicitor at Bircham Dyson Bell (now BDB Pitmans) and Ambrose Appelbe, both London-based firms. Player will predominantly be based in Ampla’s London office and will be responsible for the company’s relationships in London and the South of England.
Prior to Ward’s time at Novitas, she was a Director at O’Neill Morgan and a solicitor at Keoghs, Nicholls, Lindsell & Harris, where she specialised in all aspects of personal injury and private client work, including dealing with complex probate issues. With a strong contact base in the North of England, Ward will be based in Manchester, further enhancing Ampla’s base and reach around the country.
Both Directors join Ampla just two months after the arrival of the business’ first CEO, Richard Kennerley, formerly head of CYBG’s Corporate and Structured Finance business and Queensland State General Manager of National Australia Bank. The arrivals also follow the recent extension of the company’s legacy products into Scotland. Following this expansion, Ampla’s executor loans and beneficiary loans are now the first products of their kind to be available across the the whole of Great Britain.
Kennerley, CEO of Ampla Finance, says: “I’m delighted to welcome both Natalie and Debbie to Ampla. Both have extensive networks and commercial relationships and, as ex-lawyers, a depth of industry experience that will be of tremendous value to our partners and clients.
“Following the recent roll out of our legacy products in Scotland, the hires of Natalie and Debbie are the latest sign of our further expansion and growth in the legal finance market. Their arrival goes a long way to further advancing us on our journey and mission of becoming the number one provider in our chosen products and services. I’m looking forward to working closely with both Natalie and Debbie as we look ahead to another year of growth in 2022.”
Player, Commercial Director at Ampla Finance, comments: “I am really excited to be joining Ampla Finance at this pivotal moment in the market. I’ve been really impressed by the ambition the business has shown over the last couple of years, which has helped to establish the company as a major player in the legal finance market already. In my new role, I’m looking forward to building on this progress as we look to become the market leader in the coming years.”
Ward, Partnership Director at Ampla Finance, says: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Ampla Finance team. As soon as I was aware of the opportunity to join, I jumped at the chance. There’s a brilliant team already in place, who’ve done a terrific job growing the business in the last two years. I’m looking forward to working alongside Richard and the rest of the team as we look to continue expanding and building up the client base right across the UK.”
