Vision, Mission & Values

Our Vision

Help Our Entrepreneurs Achieve Their Hopes and Dreams.
Together We Grow.

Our Mission

Our Experienced Team Will Deliver a Compelling Tailored Cashflow Solution to Drive Growth and Value for Our Entrepreneurs. Together We Grow to Achieve Our Business Hopes and Dreams.

Our Cultural Values are

Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Opportunity, Value

SALLYPORT

Company

Sallyport Commercial Finance is an independently owned and operated, leader in commercial finance. Sallyport has operations in the UK, USA and Canada and works with entrepreneurial business owners to help them get access to the capital they need to grow. Offering a wide range of services based on supporting business cashflow, Sallyport creates custom-tailored solutions that are as unique as the clients and businesses they work with.

As entrepreneurs ourselves, we have a deep appreciation of the day to day stresses of setting up and growing businesses so we take time to build relationships with a consultative approach based on a thorough understanding of each of our client’s business operations, opportunities and challenges.

Sallyport’s mission is to provide funding to create growth opportunities and fuel business hopes and dreams for entrepreneurs that may remain unfulfilled without Sallyport’s access to capital a funding solutions.

Our experienced group of lending professionals have worked in finance for over 100 years combined and know the commercial finance market well. We have provided working capital solutions to a wide range of businesses from new-starts to multi-million pound turnover enterprises. We have a deep understanding of many business sectors and can therefore bring our knowledge and experience to help create a solution for YOUR business.

History

USA and Canada

Sallyport Commercial Finance was founded in 2014 and was backed by Sallyport Holdings, LLC, founded by Douglas Foshee, former CEO of El Paso Corporation, the former chair of the board of directors of The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch, and former independent Trustee of the AIG Credit Facility Trust formed by the U.S. Treasury. He was also a commercial banker to the energy sector for many years.

Prior to the Commercial Finance business being set up, Sallyport Holdings, LLC had evaluated over 300 investment opportunities in a number of industries. A majority of these opportunities were in good and growing small-and-medium sized companies (SMEs) that were unable to receive traditional financial support for their working capital. The investors and managers of Sallyport Holdings found it frustrating to see good companies unable to realize their true potential because they lacked access to proper working capital solutions.

This led to the birth of the business we see today. Sallyport Holdings partnered with Nick and Emma Hart, a husband and wife team, with a combined experience in the industry of 46 years to form Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC based in Texas in July 2014. Nick and Emma previously led the US West Coast office of Bibby Financial Services and previously had held senior positions in the UK with Bibby Financial Services and Lloyds Bank.

Following 10 very successful years, Sallyport Commercial Finance LLC and its subsidiaries were acquired by Northrim Bank (www.northrim.com) in 2024. Northrim has a fascinating history, growing from a small community bank with 21 employees in 1990, to a business with over £2bn of assets in the US today. Northrim provide a full range of services across personal and commercial banking and have a vision to be a leader in financial expertise, products and services, focussed on continuous improvement and market growth.

Sallyport Commercial Finance will continue to be led by Nick and Emma, now with a combined industry experience of 66 years, along with their very able Teams in the US, Canada and UK. This acquisition by and partnership with Northrim Bank provides Sallyport Commercial Finance with the financial platform for the next 10-20 years of expansion, delivering working capital for growth to ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs .

United Kingdom

The UK division, Sallyport Commercial Finance Ltd is based in Scotland with a remit to support the working capital of UK businesses and was founded in 2023 by experienced industry professionals Andy Tait, Joanna Cashmore and Kirsty Neely supported by Nick and Emma. The office is located in Central Glasgow and the initial UK team includes two of the top performers in the industry with Michelle Carroll handling relationship management and Allan Dempsie coordinating new business development

What is a Sallyport?

Sallyport is a combination of two Latin words. A “sally,” derived from the Latin “salire” (to jump), and “port,” derived from the Latin “porta” (a door or passage way).

Back in the day, a Sallyport was the gate in the castle walls that troops rode out to do battle against their assailants.

Sallyport Gate is also a famous gate at Rice University, attended by Sallyport Holdings Founder, Doug Foshee.

At Sallyport Commercial Finance we see ourselves as the “troops” standing behind You, Our clients, and your business, as you compete and win customers in your industry and marketplace.

Meet The Team

ANDY TAIT

Prior to Sallyport, Andy was CEO of GreenAcres, the leading cemetery and ceremonial parks group in the UK. He led a Management Buy Out in 2017 and the business grew 5-fold in the following 5 years.

Prior to this he spent 5 years on the UK Board of Bibby Financial Services leading geographical regions and head office functions...

Andy originally joined Bibby in 1999 to open the Scottish subsidiary in 1999 and grew this to become the largest independent Invoice Finance provider in Scotland.

Andy started his career with the Clydesdale Bank in Bridge of Allan and holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Stirling University. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds an MBA from Edinburgh University. His wife Debbie, then told him to stop studying!

Andy & Debbie have two children and like many parents, spend much of their free time acting as a taxi service for them! He somehow achieved a dream of completing an Iron Man event in his 49th year. Never again, he has been heard to say.

JOANNA CASHMORE

Previously Head of Sales in Scotland for Bibby Financial Services UK Ltd, Joanna was responsible for driving the growth of the business and management of the sales team for the past 7 years. Joanna had created the most experienced and successful team in the Scottish market and had broken most records on deal numbers and income since inception.

Prior to that, Joanna was working as a Business Development Manager, meeting all types of SMEs from new start to multi-million pound businesses and finding the best solution for their cashflow requirements. Originally, Joanna worked in HSBC and Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance on both personal and commercial lending laterally in the ABL sector.

Joanna has over 19 years’ experience in Finance, 16 of which in the Asset based lending sector. She is committed to helping SMEs realise the cashflow support they need and is keen to educate the business community to ensure they are aware of all options to help assist with cashflow, turnaround situations and M&A opportunities.

She will be responsible for all business development activities and leading the sales team.

Joanna is married with two children and her beloved dog Poppi. She enjoys reading and watching football whenever she actually gets the time.

KIRSTY NEELY

Kirsty has 26 years’ experience in the sector, having worked in all operations roles throughout her career. Prior to a business restructure she was Head of Operations for Bibby Financial Services, leading the Scotland business. She led a team of 23, managing both the Edinburgh and Glasgow offices.

Kirsty was responsible for driving record breaking profitability and PBT. Her team also won the award for the highest UK NPS (Net Promoter Score) and had very strong colleague engagement scores.

Kirsty is well regarded within the market having strong relationships with key stakeholders and industry partners. She will be responsible for setting out the Operational Processes and Policies for the business and leading the Operational team.

Kirsty is a multi-genre music connoisseur and can recite lyrics from Meatloaf to Disney classics. She is known to sing along whilst driving over bridges with her eyes shut.

ALLAN DEMPSIE

Allan was previously Business Development Manager for Bibby in Scotland from 2016 – 2023 and was Scotland’s top performing Salesperson and part of a record breaking Team.

Prior to Bibby he worked at The Clydesdale Bank / Virgin Money for 10 years in various successful Relationship Management and Sales Roles...

During this period he was also a mentor on the Career Ready Programme . Allan was also a professional football player from 1998 – 2010 playing for Hibernian FC , Elgin City FC , Ayr United FC and also represented his country at all youth levels .

Allan is married and has 3 children . When not spending time with his family or coaching his youngest Sons football Team you can find him on a golf course trying to better his current 2 handicap .

MICHELLE CARROLL

Michelle has over 35 years’ experience in the banking industry.

She has had a wide and varied career, beginning in Bank of Scotland in 1986, where she joined the Glasgow Chief Office branch, carrying our various duties. In 1997 Michelle joined the Mortgage Division as a team manager with responsibly for over 20+ staff, who processed applications to settlement.

In 2005 Michelle joined Bank of Scotland Cashflow Finance as a Client Executive, progressing to Client Team Manager in 2007. In 2009, Bank of Scotland merged with Lloyds Commercial Finance, Michelle was Team Manager for the combined teams in Glasgow and Edinburgh, managing 16+ operations colleagues.

In 2015, Michelle was appointed Senior Manager for Business Management, this role was based in London and involved liaising with key stakeholders across Lloyds Commercial Banking understanding the needs of the various business areas and facilitating solutions.

In 2016, Michelle left Lloyds Bank and joined Bibby Financial Services as a training partner but moved back into Operations in 2017 as Operations Manager, in 2021 due to structural changes in Bibby, Michelle moved into a Client Relationship Executive role, where she worked until recently.

Michelle is married and has two children and two grandchildren, family life keeps her busy, she enjoys holidays with friends and socializing.

NICK HART

President

Nick was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Bibby Financial Services USA, California from 2008 to 2014 where he grew the business approximately fourfold.

He moved to California after serving as the Managing Director of Bibby Factors Yorkshire Limited UK from 2002 to 2008. In this role, he led the launch of and established the office in Yorkshire and took over the management for the North East of England (Sunderland).

Prior to Bibby, Nick worked for Alex Lawrie Factors (part of Lloyds Bank) where he managed an approximately $65 million portfolio of 1,000 clients and a staff of 45 employees.

Before joining Lloyds Bank, Nick spent five years at Deloitte & Touche in Leeds, London, Luxembourg, and Abu Dhabi.

Nick received a Bachelors in Science (with Honors) in Business Studies from the Bradford University Business School.

He is currently a Board Member of the California Fashion Association and Fundraising Committee Member of City of Hope.

Nick is married and has four children. He likes to play and collect guitars. He is an avid motorist and has owned several collectible sports cars and holds a National B race license.

EMMA HART

EVP and Senior Credit Officer

Emma was previously the EVP of Operations with Bibby Financial Services USA, California from 2009 to 2014, where she managed a portfolio of clients across many industry sectors.

In addition, she led a staff of 20+ operations, risk and underwriting personnel. She joined Bibby Financial Services USA, California in 2008 as VP of Risk Management (West Coast). As a recognition of her excellent performance, Emma was awarded a place in the Executive Leadership Program which was Bibby Financial Services’ global initiative to drive the business forward.

Prior to joining Bibby, Emma was a Client Manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance from 1998 to 2008. In this role, she managed a $100 million portfolio of high risk ABL clients comprised of confidential AR Financing, Inventory, Cash Flow loans, Equipment, Leveraged Buy-outs/Buy-ins.

Emma spent the previous ten years (1988 – 1998) as the Credit Control Executive, at Lloyds TSB where she managed a factoring portfolio of $35 million and team of 10 credit controllers on a 40:1 ratio of client to staff. During this time, she also setup and launched Lloyds’ first internet division.

Emma is married and has four children. Her athletic and energetic children keep her busy. She also enjoys interior design (including finding new homes for Nick’s guitar collection!)