About Us

Colin Sanders

Chief Executive Officer

With a career in financial services that extends over 30 years (and counting), Colin has held a number of high-profile senior roles and is a specialist in entrepreneurial start-ups.

He was a founding director of the breakthrough non-conforming lender iGroup, and helped oversee and manage its sale to GE Capital in 2001. Soon after, Colin was appointed CEO of GE Home Lending, a new entity comprising the former iGroup and First National Bank businesses.

Colin left GE in 2004 to become a founding director and CEO of Money Partners Limited, another specialist lending business that was sold in 2008 to global investment banking giant Goldman Sachs.

In 2011, Colin was headhunted to become CEO of Omni Capital Partners, a new short- term property lender that was renamed Fortwell Capital in 2017. Under his stewardship, Fortwell became a leading player in the real estate development and structured finance worlds.

Away from the office, Colin likes nothing better than a relaxing day fly-fishing, playing a round of golf, and (less relaxing) lending his support to ‘The Eagles’ (aka Crystal Palace FC).

Email: csanders@tuscancapital.co.uk

Edward Parsons

Chief Financial Officer

Ed has 20 years’ experience in finance and accounting, including ten years in which he specialised in corporate and structured finance.

He trained as a Chartered Accountant - qualifying in 2000 - after which he focused on preparing ambitious companies for stock market Initial Public Offerings.

Ed made the move from professional practice in 2007 and joined a high-profile family office in central London. In this role, he was part of a highly-qualified team of professionals tasked to broaden the office’s offering away from a single asset class.

As part of this brief Ed formed, structured and organised the funding lines for bridging lender Omni Capital Partners which launched in 2010. With Colin Sanders’ appointment as CEO the following year, Ed and Colin proved a formidable team in the subsequent growth and success of Omni.

Much as he enjoys his spreadsheets and ledgers, Ed’s life extends beyond the balance sheet and P&L account. In his spare time, he enjoys a round of golf and following the fortunes, or otherwise, of his beloved West Bromwich Albion FC.

Email: eparsons@tuscancapital.co.uk

Stephen Palfreeman

Associate Director - London

After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Business, Steve joined Omni Capital in September 2013 where he gained experience in residential bridging finance.

Once Omni Capital rebranded to Fortwell Capital in 2016, he assumed responsibility for assisting the originations team and performing underwriting due diligence for development finance transactions.

He worked for Fortwell under parent companies CPC Group and Cain International.

In his role as Associate Director, Stephen is focused on origination and expanding the company’s distribution across the introducers market in the London region.

Away from the office, Steve is a big fan of Chelsea FC and enjoys skiing when time and opportunity permits.

Email: spalfreeman@tuscancapital.co.uk

Rebecca Salt

Regional Director - Midlands

Rebecca’s professional journey began at Aldermore Bank in the commercial finance sector a decade ago. 

Moving over to Bibby Financial Services her journey took a significant turn in 2018 when she embarked on an international assignment in Chicago, USA.

During her two-year tenure there, Rebecca played a pivotal role in implementing UK processes, showcasing her ability to adapt and excel in diverse environments.

Upon returning to the UK, Rebecca continued to enhance her reputation within the commercial finance community, particularly across the Midlands. Most recently working directly in the bridging market for Stream Bank before making the move to Tuscan Capital.

When she's not navigating the finance world, Rebecca enjoys time at home and planning her next holiday.

Email: rsalt@tuscancapital.co.uk

Hannah Melhuish

Marketing Manager

Hannah is an accomplished marketing professional with six years of experience in the financial technology and public sector industries. Now working as the Marketing Manager at Tuscan Capital, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic marketing, campaign management, and brand development.

Throughout her career she has demonstrated a keen understanding of market trends and consumer behaviour, driving impactful marketing initiatives and events.

Outside of work she has a passion for travelling with her best mates. You will often find her at music events and summer festivals or thinking about what her next tattoo will be!

 

Andy Reeder

Client Services Manager

As Client Services Manager, Andy takes point position for speaking with introducers about potential deals, structuring new business applications and building and maintaining our all-important key relationships with brokers, advisers, valuers, solicitors and real estate investors.

In a career that has embraced similar roles, Andy was previously a pivotal part of the Client Services team at Fortwell Capital and, before that, Omni Capital Partners. He also gained valuable field experience as a Business Development Manager with the specialist mortgage lender Money Partners.

Like Colin and Ed, Andy gets his sporting kicks out of a day on the golf links and a bit of footie - particularly when it involves his team of choice, Chelsea FC. But he’s partial, too, to dining out and overseas travel.

Email: areeder@tuscancapital.co.uk

John Craig

Client Services Manager

Re-united with Andy Reeder, his former running-mate at Omni Capital / Fortwell Capital, John is on hand to lend his considerable experience to help guide our brokers and advisers through every step of the application process.

In a career (thus far) spanning two decades, John has earned his financial services ‘stripes’ in a range of roles that have included underwriting (iGroup, GE Capital), sales (Money Partners, Omni Capital, Fortwell Capital) and broking (Specialist Financial Services Ltd).

Ever the grafter, he took advantage of that little post-2008 ‘lapse’ to set-up and run his own courier service and business.

Now back where he really likes to be, John mixes family time with his support for ‘The Gunners’ and occasional snowboarding excursions. But his real outdoor passion is reserved for the golf course, where, as often as possible, he likes to teach CEO Colin Sanders a good lesson (!!).

Email: jcraig@tuscancapital.co.uk

Joseph Pao

Associate

After following the Palfreeman route and studying for a degree in Management at the University of Nottingham, Joe joined the team at Tuscan Capital as a graduate.  

Quickly immersing himself in the world of bridging, he now works as a part of Tuscan’s client services team, looking after the packaging of deals. Working as an analyst out of our London HQ, Joe juggles the handling of internal data with the management of new business enquiries.  

Away from the office, you’ll find Joe following his beloved Chelsea home and away, enjoying himself on the tennis court or labouring around the five a side pitches of West London.   

Dena Thompson

Head of Credit & Risk

Reporting to CEO Colin Sanders, Dena has overall responsibility for the swift underwriting and efficient credit management of our bridging loans - from their origination through to final redemption.

She has more than 18 years’ lending experience across a range of funding institutions but has concentrated her expertise in the bridging sector for the last 11 of these.

Before joining Tuscan Capital, Dena was director of credit at real estate development lender Urban Exposure. Prior to this, she held senior underwriting and credit positions at Alternative Bridging Corporation and Fortwell Capital.

When not having fun hosting family and friends at home, or cheering on her young children in their various frenetic activities, Dena likes to kick back with a large G&T in the company of a good film or book. Nice.

Email: dthompson@tuscancapital.co.uk

Jade Arnold-Brown

Underwriting Manager

With over a decade’s experience in property-focused financial services - the last four of which have been in bridging - Jade brings to Tuscan Capital a keen eye for detail and a willing aptitude to work with our broker partners to ensure a smooth passage for their clients’ deals.

Previously with short-term lender Alternative Bridging Corporation, she has successfully passed CeMap 1 and is currently studying hard to complete parts 2 and 3 in the near future.

When not buried in her text books Jade likes to travel, watch movies and spend time with friends and family. To her great credit, she is also an active fund-raising volunteer for charities and orphanages - both in the U.K. and overseas.

Jade’s keen to learn a second language too. But having recently become a mother of a “cheeky little bubba”, recognises she’ll first need to master the art of Baby-Speak.

Good luck with that one, mum.

Email: jarnold-brown@tuscancapital.co.uk

Carmen Albert

Senior Underwriter

Carmen has over 18 years of experience in financial services, having worked for high street banks in Spain such as Bankinter and Banco de Valencia, as well as due-diligence providers in the UK. This has allowed Carmen to obtain a broad exposure to different lending practices and products in the UK, mainland Europe and Central America.

Before joining Tuscan Capital as a Senior Underwriter, Carmen worked at Fiduciam and Clayton Euro Risk.

In her current role at Tuscan, Carmen is responsible for the risk assessment of the incoming applications, ensuring a smooth underwriting and completion process.

When not delving into spreadsheets and legal documents, you will probably find her enjoying music gigs.

Email: calbert@tuscancapital.co.uk

Jade Lidiard

Senior Underwriter

After graduating from the University of Portsmouth with a first-class degree in Psychology, Jade joined MT Finance in December 2016, starting in new business, and working her way up to the position of Underwriter.

Jade joined UTB in June 2021, working for just over a year as an Underwriter/Relationship Manager in structured finance. Missing the fast-paced nature of bridging finance, Jade joined Tuscan Capital in November 2022 as an Underwriter.

In her role as Underwriter, Jade is responsible for reviewing the applications and gaining credit approval. She then liaises with the solicitors and brokers in order to facilitate a swift completion.

Away from the office, Jade loves travelling to new countries where she can try new restaurants and cocktail bars and enjoys an annual skiing trip. She also likes reading crime/mystery books.