RESPONSIBLE finance provider, Social Investment Scotland (SIS), has appointed four new board members, supporting the organisation’s continued growth and ambition to develop Scotland’s impact economy.
Joining the board and bringing a wealth of experience are, Caroline McLaughlin, Ian Mitchelmore, Samantha Bett and Kathleen McLeay.
Caroline McLaughlin has experience creating social impact across a range of regions, including the UK, Australia, Asia, and Turkey. In 2022 Caroline founded Heriot Row Advisors to support organisations and philanthropic networks to be catalysts for impact and until recently she was chief partnerships officer at Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN).
Recently retired senior manager at the British Business Bank, Ian Mitchelmore has spent his career specialising in SME finance. Ian will bring over four decades of experience to the board and remains well-connected in the banking and business support ecosystem.
The third new board member is Samantha Bett, director of treasury for Wheatley Housing Group, one of the largest social landlords in the UK. Sam manages the group’s debt portfolio and investor relations. Prior to joining Wheatley, Sam worked in financial risk advisory services in the UK and Singapore.
Also joining the SIS board is Kathleen McLeay, who has been chief executive of NCM Fund Services since 2006. Kathleen also acts as compliance officer for the group and was previously part of the corporate finance team at Noble & Co.
In 2021/22, SIS supported over 200 social enterprises with £41 million in funding across a wide range of sectors. One third of loan customers secured loans of less than £50,000 underlining SIS’s support for smaller social enterprises, charities, and community organisationsCommenting on the appointments, Ken Barclay, SIS Chair, said: “I would like to welcome the new board members, who together bring a great deal of relevant expertise to our board. The high calibre of the appointments reflects our leading position as a responsible finance provider in Scotland and beyond. All four new members bring a unique range of skills and experience which will be vital in fuelling SIS’s vision to build an impact economy.”
