The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) has announced the appointment of John Kent and Marc Champ as new broker Directors to its Board, following a vote by their fellow broker board Directors.
The two appointments strengthen the broker voice at board level and bring complementary expertise from across the property finance market, with each offering a distinct perspective shaped by their professional backgrounds. John Kent (White Rose Finance) brings extensive experience from the appointed representative (AR) network space, while Marc Champ (Wharf Financial Services) contributes deep, hands-on expertise from specialist property finance broking. Both will attend their first NACFB Board meeting later this week.
John Kent is Managing Director of White Rose Finance Group, where he has helped build a large UK-wide appointed representative network of commercial finance brokers and led accredited professional training initiatives. Marc Champ is Founder and Managing Director of Wharf Financial Services, a specialist property finance brokerage, with over 20 years’ experience delivering funding solutions across bridging, development finance, buy-to-let and complex commercial lending. John and Marc replace the roles and expertise previously held by Adrian Coles and Steve Olejnik, whose interim tenures concluded at the end of 2025.
Commenting on his appointment, John Kent, Managing Director of White Rose Finance, said: “I recognise this as an incredible opportunity to work with a highly talented group of professionals. I’m looking forward to working collaboratively to help shape the future of the NACFB and build on its positive influence within the commercial finance sector.”
Marc Champ, Founder and Managing Director of Wharf Financial Services, also commented: “Having benefited hugely from the NACFB throughout my career, I’m excited to give something back. I’ll bring passion, real-world perspective and a commitment to ensuring the Association continues to lead from the front.”
Jim Higginbotham, CEO of the NACFB, said: “John and Marc were selected because they bring insight, credibility and real-world experience from two different ends of the property finance spectrum. Together, they offer a valuable combination of strategic network insight and frontline brokerage expertise. Their perspectives will strengthen board-level decision-making and help ensure the NACFB continues to reflect how the market is actually operating on the ground.”
Simon Featherstone, Chair of the NACFB, added: “A strong board is one that brings together a plurality of views and lived experience. Our Members operate across a wide range of products, firm structures and client types, and it’s vital that diversity of perspective is reflected at board level. John and Marc will help ensure the NACFB continues to represent brokers, lenders and the full breadth of intermediary business models across the commercial finance landscape.”
John and Marc are the latest in a series of new appointments to the NACFB Board. Their arrival follows the appointment of Nova Everidge (Metro Bank) and Jon Wilcox (Lloyds Bank), who joined the Board earlier this year as Patron Directors, further strengthening lender representation alongside the broker voice.
The announcement coincides with the opening of registration for the UK’s largest commercial finance event. The NACFB Commercial Finance Expo 2026 will return to Hall 3A of Birmingham’s NEC on Wednesday 10th June 2026, bringing brokers, lenders and industry stakeholders together for the flagship annual gathering of the intermediary market.
In terms of market impact, NACFB Member brokers originated an estimated £27 billion of commercial lending in 2024, underlining the scale of intermediary-led finance across the UK SME economy. Updated findings from the Association’s latest broker and lender surveys will be published later this month.
