Following the successful launch of its direct-to-SME business in 2021 and announcement that it will be acquiring 2,000 customers from Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Allica has appointed a new relationship manager for the hospitality and leisure industry.
It brings Allica’s direct-to-SME team up to 10 relationship managers, with 10 more set to be appointed in the coming months. Allica says this reflects its ongoing commitment to providing real, human expertise to businesses at a time when many banks have been forced to strip back their relationship management teams. It says it can only do this because it has been built from the ground up on innovative technology, specifically designed to meet the needs of established owner-managed businesses.
Morgan Keating, Relationship Manager for the License and Leisure industry, is primarily based in Birmingham and moves to Allica after 16 years at AIB. Morgan will be specifically focused on supporting businesses across the UK in the licensed and leisure sector, such as pubs and hotels.
“It’s been a torrid time for hospitality and leisure businesses the past couple of years, but as restrictions ease, they finally have a chance to bounce back,” says Morgan. “Allica has made clear their commitment to the sector and also the value they place in specialist expertise.
“I’m especially looking forward to what we can achieve together with our customers. In particular, I’m pleased to be able to provide continuity to those businesses I have come to know well from my time at AIB.”
Emma Lane, Head of Client Relationship Management at Allica, says the license and leisure industry is a critically important industry to support: “As an industry, it is one of the UK’s biggest employers and its success will play a big part in our post-Covid recovery. We therefore think it is essential to invest in relationship managers who truly understand the financial challenges and solutions faced by the sector – in order that we can provide a dedicated service fuelled by meaningful insight.”
