NORTH East Access to Finance (NEA2F) which specialises in helping small and medium-sized businesses access funding, has appointed a new chief operating officer.

Stephen Lightley, MA FCA, rings more than 30 years’ experience in the financial sector to his role which will involve overseeing the day-to-day operations of NEA2F.

After 13 years with KPMG in Newcastle, he became managing partner with Haines Watts in Newcastle and later regional partner for Scotland.

He subsequently moved on to become finance director, and then CEO, of an AIM=listed professional services company of which he had been a founding partner.

He has been a lay member of the governing council of Newcastle University from 2001 to 2011 and has been a non-executive board member of a local NHS trust.

Lightley has recently been running his own business consultancy providing accounting and financial advisory services to businesses in the North East, principally early stage SMEs.

Chairman of NEA2F Hugh Morgan Williams, said “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to this role.

“North East Access to Finance was set up in 2009 to oversee the £125m Finance for Business North East programme. Our other aims are to provide thought leadership on access to finance throughout the region and support North East companies seeking investment.

“Our remit also includes initiating new investment funds, stimulating new angel investment and safeguarding existing investment legacies, as well as reinvesting legacy returns from the Finance for Business North East programme.

“We have recently announced a major research initiative with Northumbria University into the availability of funding for small and medium-sized businesses and have also announced we will have appointed Viking Fund managers, to set up a new Angel network for the region.“

“Stephen will play a critical part in the development of these initiatives including our highly successful “Routes to Investment” programme of workshops which help businesses prepare themselves better to access funding”.