Paragon Bank appoints Richard van Dort to lead vendor growth

Paragon Bank has strengthened its SME Lending leadership team with the appointment of Richard van Dort as Head of Business Development Vendor, signalling the FTSE 250 lender’s intent to accelerate growth across its vendor and direct channels.

Van Dort brings more than three decades of experience in asset finance and banking, having held senior roles at DLL and GE Capital.

Over his career he has developed global vendor programmes, established strategic funding partnerships and led the creation of innovative finance solutions across sectors including transport and logistics, intralogistics, industrial equipment, construction and materials handling.

At DLL, van Dort most recently oversaw the development of new funding products and strategies for global vendor and direct enterprise partners. Earlier in his tenure, he played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling the UK non-vendor direct funding market for major enterprise clients. His previous leadership roles at GE Capital included responsibility for high-value vendor programmes across multiple specialist equipment sectors.

Paragon said the appointment aligns with the bank’s broader strategy to grow its vendor and direct propositions, supported by investments in digitalisation, enhanced credit appetite and strengthened operational infrastructure. The approach aims to drive further growth across core markets such as intralogistics, materials handling, access, waste, ports and terminals, and aerial work platforms.

Van Dort will work alongside Terry Lloyd, Head of Vendor, combining their experience under a unified leadership structure. Van Dort will lead business development and strategic expansion, while Lloyd continues to oversee operational delivery and performance. Paragon said the dual leadership model will ensure a “best-in-class service and clear accountability” for its vendor partners.

The move comes as Paragon marks 10 years of SME Lending. The division now supports more than 16,000 UK SMEs, with its loan book quadrupling over the past decade.

Stewart Good, Sales Director of SME Lending at Paragon Bank, said: “This appointment is a clear statement of intent from Paragon SME Lending. Richard’s experience and expertise will bring huge value to our business, and his appointment represents a significant investment in our long-term ambitions to become the funder of choice for UK SMEs and vendors. We are ready to expand our direct capabilities, support SMEs on their growth journeys and maintain the highest standards of service as we continue to grow.”

Richard van Dort added: “I’ve watched Paragon’s growth and admired the team’s ambition for some time. The attraction of working with a UK-based funder with agility, talented people and a clear strategy and defined markets was a real draw for me. In this role I plan to grow a foothold across a range of sectors – waste, transport, healthcare, trailers, aviation and intralogistics to name a few – and to build sustainable, long-term partnerships based on trust and responsiveness.

“Now more than ever, customers want lenders that do what they say, offering flexibility and tailoring products suitable to their needs. Paragon truly delivers on that promise.”