New Asset Insights podcast: Andy Taylor outlines “Haydock 2.0”

Finance Connect has released the latest episode of the Asset Insights Podcast, featuring Andy Taylor, newly appointed co-Managing Director of Haydock Finance, in conversation with Christian Roelofs, CEO of Finativ.

In this episode, Taylor reflects on taking the reins at Haydock following recent leadership changes and sets out the vision for what he describes as “Haydock 2.0” – the next phase of growth for the business.

Having joined Haydock seven years ago following its acquisition by Apollo, Taylor has been instrumental in scaling the business from a smaller regional lender into a leading non-bank asset finance provider. Now, stepping into the co-MD role alongside Lee Pearson, he emphasises continuity as well as evolution.

Culture

A central theme of the discussion is culture. Taylor explains how Haydock has deliberately shifted from a traditional, founder-led approach to a more enabling environment where employees are encouraged to make decisions, take ownership and learn through experience. This cultural shift, he argues, has been fundamental to delivering consistent service — a key differentiator in the broker-led market.

The conversation also explores how Haydock translates that culture into broker relationships. By focusing on responsiveness, transparency and operational efficiency, the business has strengthened its reputation in the market. Taylor highlights the use of data to actively manage broker performance, moving beyond volume metrics to focus on quality, efficiency and long-term value.

Technology with a purpose

Technology and process improvement form another pillar of “Haydock 2.0”. Rather than adopting solutions for their own sake, Taylor stresses the importance of “technology with a purpose” – targeting specific inefficiencies such as manual data entry and documentation errors. This balanced approach combines automation with investment in people and process design.

On the credit side, Taylor outlines Haydock’s differentiated approach to underwriting, including its willingness to make sensible exceptions to policy where appropriate. This is supported by increased in-life monitoring, asset inspections and a proactive collections strategy that prioritises customer support while protecting the business.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Taylor is optimistic about Haydock’s growth trajectory but acknowledges a more uncertain macroeconomic environment. Managing credit risk, maintaining service consistency and continuing to invest in specialist expertise – including sectors such as materials handling and green assets – will be critical to the next stage of development.

The full episode is available to watch at Finance Connect and on Spotify, YouTube and Amazon.