Capitas Finance | Management Team

Jeremy Hartill

Managing Director

Jeremy was formerly a founding director and owner of Genesis Capital Plc (GCP), a leasing brokerage specialising in the financing of software and IT. He successfully sold his shareholding in 2005. At GCP he was the Sales and Marketing Director. Prior to Genesis he worked at Syscap Plc, in both sales and sales management roles responsible for strategic technology vendor finance programmes. Prior to this Jeremy worked for NatWest Bank’s asset finance subsidiary, Lombard North Central Plc. He has also attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet. Jeremy holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Sales Management, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has achieved Chartered Marketer status.

Jeremy is responsible for sales and business strategy by planning, directing and managing the overall activities of Capitas offices and staff.

Simon Brook

Director

Simon was formerly Finance Director of Syscap Plc, the largest leasing brokerage in the UK and a specialist in IT finance. He was also MD of Syscap Finance Ltd running own book. He was part of the original founding management team, having joined in 1991, and his responsibilities encompassed finance, operations, credit and risk, residual value management, funding and building an ‘own book’ capability.  Prior to Syscap he worked in the City at Manufacturers Hanover (now JP Morgan Chase), Daiwa Securities and Grindlays Bank, in a variety of roles including corporate banking and euroequities. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University.

Simon is responsible for finance, operations and credit at Capitas.

Colin Pearce

Chairman

Colin until his retirement 5 years ago, was employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) for 33 years. He enjoyed a varied career gaining valuable experience as a successful Corporate Director who developed a wealth of banking knowledge, a range of disciplines and keen market awareness. For the last 10 years of his RBS employment he was jointly accountable for managing three different Bank subsidiary businesses with a focus on company risk, driving sales & marketing techniques and developing team talent through coaching and personal development. This was delivered in 3 widely differing roles covering London’s square mile responsible for Lombard’s (RBSG) largest asset financing operation, the technology leasing sector in the USA and UK and finally, the vehicle contract hire business in the UK. Following retirement he established his own consultancy and now resides on a variety of corporate boards in formal positions or acting as a consultant.
Colin advises on Group business strategy and provides guidance on corporate governance issues.

Mike Bethwaite

Associate Director

Mike was formerly Vice President of Shell Commercial primarily responsible for Business Development and Operations of Shell Auto Finance. He has over 30 years experience in asset finance with a particular skill set in the automotive sector, starting with Mercantile Credit / Barclays in the North West of England. He progressed through a variety of roles to become National Business Development Director. Additional areas of responsibility encompassed risk and credit management, commercial investments, compliance and developing a national sales team. He also spent time with Automotive Financial Services and Singer and Friedlander in a commercial manager capacity. He has a degree in Applied Physics.

Mike is primarily responsible for developments in the automotive, construction, distribution and manufacturing sectors.

Gary Dawkins

Director: Capitas Vehicle Finance

Gary was formerly Sales Manager for Fortis Lease, part of BNP Paribas banking group. He was responsible for retail and stocking finance for the UK’s major dealer groups. Prior to Fortis Gary ran his own motor finance brokerage, The Funding Partnership (TFP) before successfully selling the business in April 2008. TFP specialised in the funding of high net worth clients and the outsourcing of the Business Manager role for selected dealers.

Gary has over 25 years experience in the automotive industry working for Blackhorse (part of Lloyds TSB) and Fortis in underwriting and sales. In addition, he has held Business Management and Group Finance & Insurance roles with Porsche Retail Group, Cooper Group and Ixion (now Sytner). Gary heads up Capitas Vehicle Finance supporting dealer groups with their retail finance offering.

Nicki Ilbrey

Sales Manager

Nicki has 18 years’ experience in the finance and leasing industry. Prior to joining Capitas, she ran her own asset finance brokerage, specialising in IT finance.  Previously she set up and managed the in-house Leasing Division at Centerprise International Ltd, one of largest and most respected IT providers in the UK. This followed 7 years with CIT Vendor Finance as Senior Account Development Manager within the technology finance division, operating national vendor programmes for respected OEM’s including NEC Computers. Prior to CIT, Nicki spent 7 years with Schroder Asset Finance as an Account Manager in various hi-tech. sectors.

Mark Shearer

Associate Director

Mark heads up the Capitas Clean Technology Division. He is a sustainability consultant with 11 years experience in engineering and construction working on projects with a diverse range of customers including the Carbon Trust, universities, public and private sector organisations. Mark has a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and System Design.

An experienced manager on commercial projects, Mark is an ISO 14001 advanced lead auditor, accredited Carbon Trust and BREEAM consultant. His strengths lie in low carbon technology implementation and renewable energy advisory. Recent work has focused on the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme, energy monitoring and targeting, and organisations sustainability strategies. 

Mark assesses risk and opportunity delivering the right mix of financial expertise and clean technology insight to help customers achieve long term carbon reduction and energy efficiency benefits.