OUR TEAM
With over 100+ years of Commercial Finance expertise and 5,000+ professional connections, Navigate Commercial Finance secures the ideal funding solution for your business.
Paul Varley
Managing Director
Has worked in bank owned and independent invoice finance businesses and was a board member and founding director of a new to market business finance brokerage.
Paul is all about relationships and communication. He will listen to your business plans and will suggest funding solutions to give you the best chance to achieve them. You’ll also have some fun along the way!!
Ben Hayward
Commercial Director
Ben has worked in finance for nearly 20 years, with roles at both Bank and Independent lenders. For the last 12 years Ben ran a successful Invoice Finance brokerage and lender, taking the business from a new start to a highly successful enterprise.
Ben prides himself on being approachable and efficient, and has a real passion for helping SME businesses achieve their goals. His personable approach helps businesses and lenders alike achieve their goals.
Steve Stokes
Non-Executive Director
Has worked in the Midland’s business community for 25 years with much of that time spent in restructuring. After stepping away from practice in 2019, Steve has continued to assist many businesses at various stages of financial stress through his business consultancy.
Steve always focuses on delivering the right solutions for all key stakeholders and has been a great addition to the Navigate board, both in terms of sharing his experiences when we are working on challenging deals, as well as providing guidance to clients showing early signs of distress.
Richard Griffiths
Non-Executive Director
Is a well-known corporate lawyer who is a partner at Higgs LLP and heads up the firm’s busy Corporate team. He predominantly advises owner-managed businesses on sales, acquisitions and investments as well as supporting them generally with their growth and succession strategies.
Richard builds close, trusted relationships with his clients and professional contacts and he is looking forward to applying the same values in his role with Navigate.
Adam Cooksley
Business Development Manager
Adam brings over a decade of experience helping businesses of all sizes achieve their growth ambitions. With a strong background in business development and relationship management, he has supported clients across a wide range of industries, from start-ups to larger SMEs providing strategic guidance and access to the right financial solutions.
Adam’s personable and relationship led approach has been recognised by Insider Media with two nominations for Young Business Development Professional of the year and is keen to continue building long-term, trusted partnerships. Outside of work, Adam is passionate about football (A big Coventry City fan!) and spending quality time with his daughter.
Ian Gardner
New Business
Ian has had a long and successful career in business and corporate banking, managing teams across the Midlands and South. In more recent years he headed up an innovative Government-backed business growth programme for over 1,500 ambitious SMEs, following which he delivered finance and consultancy services for a regional accountancy practice.
Ian loves working with business owners and has the experience to help you find the best solutions for your business.
Cormac Parize
New Business Associate
Has a background in Private Client Tax affairs gained at a top four accounting firm, where he supported high net worth individuals, business owners, and families. Cormac has built a strong foundation in personal tax compliance, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax planning, developing a well rounded skill set in complex personal tax matters.
Having begun his career in a fast paced advisory environment and gaining valuable exposure to complex tax matters, Cormac is our New Business Associate. Driven by a sharp eye for detail, a strong analytical mindset, and a genuine commitment to exceptional client service, Cormac approaches every project with enthusiasm and purpose.
Elizabeth Horner
Business Manager
Elizabeth (Liz) has over 15 years of experience working in a large financial institution primarily in Trade and Receivables Finance. Prior to that Liz worked in retail management and the health and beauty industry.
Liz has a vast skill set ranging from project management, client management, administration, sales, governance, and financial management so keeps us in line and in check! She loves working with people and building great long-term working relationships.
Craig Cooksley
Website & SEO
Craig Cooksley brings over 30 years of technical, media, and marketing expertise to Navigate Commercial Finance. With a passion for driving business growth through innovative solutions, he also brings deep, hands-on understanding of business funding – gained from leading a £10m scheme that supported start-ups and small businesses in Birmingham.
At Reach PLC (owner of the Mirror Newspaper), he led revenue diversification as Head of Innovation, blending advertising, editorial, and cutting-edge technologies. He then supported tech start-ups in Asia, applying real world applications to transformative technology.
We’re Recruiting
We’re looking for dynamic, pragmatic and lateral thinkers to join our exciting, well-respected business to make it happen.
Please contact:
letstalk@navigate.com