Solihull's Paragon Bank appoints Stewart Good as SME lending sales director

By Peter Davison

27 June 2023

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Stewart Good

Stewart Good has been appointed sales director for SME Lending at Solihull-based Paragon Bank.

Stewart will lead Paragon’s provision of specialist asset financing solutions to help UK businesses innovate, adapt and grow. He will report to Paragon Bank Managing Director of SME Lending John Phillipou.

Stewart has over 30 years of experience in asset and equipment finance and joins Paragon from Shawbrook Bank, where he was Head of Indirect Channel. Prior to Shawbrook, Stewart held asset finance-related roles at Propel Finance, Midlands Asset Finance and Aldermore Bank, after starting his career at GE Capital and Key Equipment Finance.

“This is a vital time for SMEs seeking growth after the challenge of recent years," said Stuart. "Companies are looking to invest in fresh assets and prepare for the future; I’m excited to work with them to not only deliver growth for businesses, but also for the wider economy.

“Paragon has a clear desire to support British SMEs. It grew lending to SME customers by 21 per cent in the first half of its financial year and has invested heavily in its digital proposition to benefit customers and intermediaries.

"Paragon is well placed to support companies through its strong sector-focused teams and the experience of its workforce – and I greatly look forward to leading Paragon’s exceptional team of dedicated SME lending specialists.”

John added: “Stewart brings a wealth of experience to Paragon, supporting SMEs that will be of substantial benefit to businesses planning for growth and expansion.

“As SME lending specialists, Paragon is dedicated to working with and supporting businesses throughout the UK via bespoke financing solutions. Stewart’s appointment further enhances the service we are proud to provide.”

By Peter Davison

Peter Davison is deputy editor of The Business Magazine. He has spent his life in journalism – doing work experience in newsrooms in and around Bristol while still at school, and landing his first job on a local newspaper aged 19. By 28 he was the youngest newspaper editor in the country.

An early advocate of online news, he spent the first years of the 2000s telling his bosses that the internet posed both the biggest opportunity and greatest threat to the newspaper industry and the art of journalism. He was right on both counts.

Since 2006 he has enjoyed a career as a freelance journalist. He lives in rural Wiltshire with one wife, two children, and three cats.