Compass strengthens engineering presence with Chris Cooke

Compass Business Finance has announced that industry expert Chris Cooke and his brokerage business have joined the company, strengthening its position within the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Compass first approached Cooke at the beginning of last year, recognising both his experience in engineering finance and the possibility that he might be considering the early steps toward retirement. However, Cooke proved far from ready to step away. Impressed by Compass’s continued growth in the engineering market, its customer-first ethos, and its commitment to making finance straightforward, he saw a strong alignment between his values and the Compass approach.

“It was clear from the outset that Compass were doing things the right way,” said Chris Cooke. “No nonsense, no over-complication, just genuine people putting customers first. That really resonated with me. Joining Compass allows me to keep supporting the suppliers and customers I care about, while also helping the next generation come through. I’m genuinely excited for what’s ahead.”

Cooke brings decades of industry knowledge to Compass. His career began with an eight-year toolmaking apprenticeship, followed by roles at Hurco and a 14-year tenure at Close Brothers, where he progressed to Sales Director. Since founding his own brokerage in 2016, he has become one of the most trusted and respected names in engineering finance.

In his new role at Compass, Cooke will continue to support customers and suppliers while also playing a key role in mentoring and training the company’s emerging sales talent, an important part of Compass’s long-term growth strategy.

“Chris is someone we’ve admired for a long time,” said Mark Nelson, Director at Compass Business Finance. “His integrity, his technical understanding, and his commitment to doing right by customers set a benchmark for the industry. Bringing him into the business strengthens our engineering offering and supports the development of our future team. We’re delighted to have him on board.”