Richard Topliss, the former Natwest managing director of corporate banking in the North, has joined the lender Together as a consultant to its corporate team.

Topliss, an industry leader with more than four decades of banking experience has joined Together which is based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester and provides corporate and commercial finance across the UK.

Topliss comments: “I have known Together for more than 20 years, and have been inspired by its success and values in becoming one of the most amazing privately-owned financial services business in the country.

“I’m excited to be joining such a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial business to support the corporate team as it continues to expand its brand, identifying more opportunities for growth in the North West and across the UK.”

Topliss began his career with NatWest in Bristol 45 years ago and has since worked in London, the West Midlands and Scotland before moving to the North in 2000 following the bank’s takeover by RBS.

He is  well known for supporting entrepreneurialism across the North as a former Chairman of The Growth Company, a Manchester based social enterprise with a mission to create jobs and improve lives.

In addition, he is a non-executive director of British Engines Group, a specialist engineering business based in Newcastle, and Chairman of Traditum Private Equity based in Yorkshire.