365 Finance Appoints George Visser as Chief Risk Officer to Scale SME Lending Operations

365 Finance has appointed George Visser as Chief Risk Officer to lead its credit risk strategy and underwriting policy. For the fintech sector, this move signals a strengthening of risk management frameworks within the alternative lending space as specialist providers scale their merchant cash advance offerings to SMEs across the UK and Ireland.

What was announced

George Visser joins 365 Finance to head the company’s risk function. His remit includes overseeing credit risk strategy, portfolio and impairment modelling, and the development of underwriting policy. The appointment is centered on the objective of ensuring responsible lending as the firm continues to expand its footprint in the SME finance market.

Visser brings over a decade of experience to the role, having spent 11 years at Bayport Financial Services Group. During his tenure there, he progressed from the role of Financial Modeller to Head of Commercial Analytics, eventually serving as Group Credit Executive. This background in commercial analytics is expected to inform his oversight of the company's risk assessments.

The company specializes in merchant cash advances, a form of alternative business finance designed to assist SMEs with cash flow management. These products are specifically tailored for businesses that process payments via debit and credit cards, as the advance is repaid through a percentage of future card sales. 365 Finance provides these solutions to businesses across the United Kingdom and Ireland, offering same-day funding for amounts ranging between £10,000 and £500,000. This speed of delivery is a core component of the product's value proposition for small businesses requiring immediate liquidity without the rigid repayment schedules of traditional loans.

"George is a brilliant addition to the team, and his appointment comes at a great time. 365 Finance continues to scale, and that is only possible with talented, hard-working people – George more than ticks those boxes, and he is already playing a hugely important role in bolstering our risk function, which in turn supports us on our mission to deliver the fast, flexible finance that so many SMEs rely on."

Warren Abbey, CEO at 365 Finance.

The companies involved

365 Finance, which also operates via the web domain 365businessfinance.co.uk, is a specialist lender focused on the SME sector. The company has established itself as a significant player in the UK’s alternative finance landscape, particularly through its focus on the merchant cash advance model. Unlike traditional term loans, the firm’s products are designed to fluctuate with the revenue of the borrower, making them a popular choice for retail, hospitality, and e-commerce businesses that experience seasonal or variable income.

The company operates in a competitive market where speed of decision-making is often the primary differentiator against high-street banks. By providing same-day funding up to £500,000, 365 Finance positions itself as a high-velocity alternative to traditional commercial credit. The firm has undergone significant leadership changes and capital structure updates in recent years to support its scaling efforts, maintaining a focus on the UK and Irish markets where the demand for flexible, non-dilutive capital remains high among small and medium-sized enterprises.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked the growth of 365 Finance through several key milestones. In April 2024, the company signaled its intent for further expansion with the report that 365 Finance Appoints New CEO as It Targets Further Growth, bringing Warren Abbey into the lead role. This followed a significant financial boost in 2023, when 365 Business Finance boosts funding capacity with increase to senior secured facility with Pollen Street, a move that expanded its lending headroom.

More recently, in June 2025, the lender has been active in strengthening its internal expertise, as seen when 365 Finance Strengthens Credit Leadership With Appointment of Jagriti Singh as Head of Credit. This internal focus coincides with shifting market trends; FF News also covered the Unprecedented Demand for SME Funding From E-Commerce Businesses in North West, highlighting the specific geographic and sectoral pressures driving the need for merchant cash advances.

What this means

The appointment of a Chief Risk Officer with deep experience in commercial analytics and group-level credit execution marks a maturation point for the merchant cash advance sector. As alternative lenders move from being niche players to primary sources of capital for SMEs, the pressure to maintain "responsible lending" while delivering "same-day" decisions becomes a difficult balancing act. The industry is currently under scrutiny regarding how it handles impairment modelling during periods of economic volatility. This hire suggests that 365 Finance is prioritizing the sophistication of its risk engine to protect its portfolio against market fluctuations, a move that other specialist lenders may be forced to emulate to satisfy their own credit facility providers.