Meet the Commercial Finance Team
A team of commercial finance specialists, committed to supporting businesses with tailored funding solutions and trusted financial expertise.
Tom Apjohn-Williams
Commercial Manager
Tom Apjohn-Williams
Commercial Manager
About
Tom joined Cornerstone in August 2024 following his graduation from the University of Bath with a 2:1 BSc in Business, which included industry placements in Account Management and Marketing. Having progressed through Cornerstone’s Graduate Scheme, Tom was appointed Commercial Manager in April 2025. He is also continuing his studies post-university, working towards his Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
t.apjohn-williams@cornerstonefinance.co.uk
Steven Darbyshire
Head of Commercial Finance (North)
Steven Darbyshire
Head of Commercial Finance (North)
About
Steven has over 15 years’ experience within the financial services sector with a reputation for developing strong client relationships. He spent most of his career at NatWest in a number of relationship roles, including building a regional broker network. He has also worked in the Alternative Finance market at Together Money and Sancus Lending Group where he specialised in property funding, specifically bridging and development finance.
Hilary Foster
Customer Service Manager
Hilary Foster
Customer Service Manager
About
Hilary is a part-time Triage Officer who joined the Cornerstone team in January 2023, bringing a wealth of life experience and common sense to her role. Her professional career was in retail banking, where she held a variety of roles including Risk, Branch, and Human Resource Management, gaining professional qualifications in each area.
She later took on further roles in Mortgage Regulation and Compliance and holds the CeMAP qualification.
Ben Gauci
Commercial Manager
Ben Gauci
Commercial Manager
About
Ben joined Cornerstone in October 2022, beginning his career in our Compliance department. During this time, he successfully achieved his CII Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice, building a strong foundation in regulated mortgage advice and compliance practices.
Prior to joining Cornerstone, Ben completed his postgraduate studies at the University of South Wales, graduating with a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment with distinction.
In January 2024, Ben transitioned into our Commercial team, where he now specialises in a range of property finance solutions, including both regulated and unregulated bridging finance, complex buy-to-let mortgages, and commercial mortgage arrangements.
Dedicated to CPD, Ben is currently studying towards his Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Neil Hillard
Business Development Manager
Neil Hillard
Business Development Manager
About
Neil brings a wealth of industry experience to his role as Business Development Manager. He entered financial services in 1988, becoming an IFA, and spent four years with HSBC advising commercial and corporate clients. Neil joined Cornerstone in 2022, having previously run his own mortgage brokerage for several years. He is CeMAP qualified and a property specialist, with expertise in bridging finance, buy-to-let, commercial and residential investment, and commercial owner-occupier transactions.
John Maude
Head of Commercial Finance (Midlands)
John Maude
Head of Commercial Finance (Midlands)
About
John has over 36 years of experience in business and commercial banking, predominantly supporting SMEs, and he’s committed to helping Midlands-based businesses access the tailored financial solutions they need to thrive. Previously, John served as Regional Managing Director for the Midlands, Southwest & Wales at NatWest, followed by 18 months as Head of Business Banking Portfolio Management. At Cornerstone, John aims to establish the brand as the premier commercial finance broker in the Midlands, offering bespoke advice and dedicated support to clients striving for growth.
Kevin Morgan
Managing Director, Cornerstone Commercial Finance
Kevin Morgan
Managing Director, Cornerstone Commercial Finance
About
Kevin joined Cornerstone Finance Group in September 2023, bringing with him an extensive 34-year career in commercial finance. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Kevin spent over three decades at NatWest, where he held a range of front-line roles, including senior management positions in Business & Commercial Lending underwriting in Birmingham and leadership roles within Business Banking across Wales and the M4 corridor.
A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Kevin believes that it is vital to the growth and prosperity of both the economy and communities. He is dedicated to building a culture that inspires, supports, and fosters growth and entrepreneurial spirit.
Kelly Morgan
Commercial Manager, Asset Finance
Kelly Morgan
Commercial Manager, Asset Finance
About
After graduating with a degree in Business Management, Kelly began her career in marketing before transitioning into the financial sector. She joined our team in 2024 as a Commercial Manager, specialising in Asset Finance.
Loui O’Brien
Commercial Manager
Loui O’Brien
Commercial Manager
About
Loui brings over three years of experience supporting trading businesses and property investors with their financial requirements in his role as a Commercial Manager at Cornerstone Finance.
After graduating with a degree in Business Management from Cardiff University, Loui began his career in the logistics sector, completing a graduate scheme that laid the foundation for his professional development.
In March 2022, he transitioned into financial services, joining Cornerstone to pursue his interest in commercial finance. Since then, he has achieved his CII Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice and has established himself as a specialist in delivering tailored financial solutions to a broad range of clients.
Ian Pottle
Head of Complex Funding
Ian Pottle
Head of Complex Funding
About
Ian brings a wealth of experience to his role as Head of Complex Funding. He spent 43 years at NatWest, where he served as a Commercial Manager overseeing a wide range of SME and corporate business portfolios. His roles also included Credit Underwriter, and during the 2008 financial crisis, he was instrumental in supporting stressed businesses. His final position at NatWest was as a Broker Development Manager, assisting commercial brokers with their clients’ funding requirements.
Ian joined Cornerstone in January 2020 and played a key role in supporting clients through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He now specialises in larger, complex funding deals for commercial owner-occupiers, commercial and residential investment, as well as management buyouts (MBOs), mergers, and acquisitions.
Sharon Preddy
Customer Service Manager
Sharon Preddy
Customer Service Manager
About
Sharon brings over 42 years of financial services experience to her role as Commercial Support Officer. She joined Cornerstone in 2020 following a 33-year career at NatWest, where she held roles in both retail and business banking before moving into the merchant card services industry. Sharon also has experience running her own business and working for the Federation of Small Businesses.
Chris Preston
Head of Commercial Finance (Southwest)
Chris Preston
Head of Commercial Finance (Southwest)
About
Chris has 40 years’ experience of leading, supporting and advising both SME & Personal clients gained through a distinguished career with NatWest & RBS where he was most recently the Regional Managing Director for the Southwest & Wales. Chris has a broad range of experience upon which to draw which has seen him gain hands on experience of many sectors including Retail, Leisure & Hospitality, Manufacturing, Property Development and Agriculture & Agricultural diversification.
Jamie Ringer
Sales Director
Jamie Ringer
Sales Director
About
Jamie is a dynamic sales director known for his strategic leadership, results-driven mindset, and ability to build high-performing teams. With over 12 years of experience in commercial finance industry, Jamie has led transformative initiatives across multiple sectors, consistently exceeding targets and driving sustainable growth.
Before transitioning into the corporate world, Jamie enjoyed a successful career as a professional rugby player. Representing Wales at every level including senior caps, he developed a deep understanding of teamwork, resilience, and performance under pressure - qualities that have become hallmarks of his leadership style in business.
Drawing from his time on the pitch, Jamie brings a unique blend of competitive spirit and strategic thinking to his sales leadership. He is passionate about mentoring others, fostering a winning culture, and aligning sales operations with long-term organizational goals.
Today, James continues to channel the discipline and focus that defined his rugby career into his role as a sales director, helping companies scale through innovation, customer-centric strategies, and agile sales execution.
Jon Roberts
Head of Real Estate
Jon Roberts
Head of Real Estate
About
Jon joined Cornerstone Finance in November 2024 as Head of Real Estate, following a successful 30-year career in commercial banking across Wales and the Midlands. For the past 15 years, he held specialist roles within the NatWest and Santander Real Estate teams in the Midlands, focusing on portfolio investment and development funding.
Jake Thomas
Commercial Support Officer
Jake Thomas
Commercial Support Officer
About
Jake joined Cornerstone in August 2024 as part of the Compliance team, where he developed a solid understanding of regulatory frameworks and industry practices. He holds a degree in Business Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University and began his career at Cornerstone immediately after completing his studies.
After 8 months, Jake transitioned to the Commercial team and now works as a Commercial Support Officer. In this role, he is focused on deepening his industry knowledge and is actively preparing to undertake his financial exams, with the goal of progressing further within the Commercial team.