The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers has appointed Jim Higginbotham as chief executive.

The trade body says Higginbotham steps into the role at a “pivotal time” for the organisation, which earlier this year topped 1,300 member firms, including more than 2,750 individual commercial finance brokers and 160 commercial lenders.

He was most recently the chief executive at Star Asset Finance, where he oversaw the firm boost its risk controls, upgrade the IT infrastructure, and centralised core business functions across four previously independent brokerages and grow the group’s balance sheet by 50% in just under two-and-a-half years.

Higginbotham previously held senior roles at Lombard, Barclays, and GE Capital.

He replaces managing director Norman Chambers, who will become a non-executive director on the association’s board later this year.

NACFB interim chair Adrian Coles says: “Jim was a standout choice for the NACFB board. His experience, leadership, and vision make him the ideal person to guide the association into the future.”

Higginbotham adds: “With over three decades of experience across all areas of commercial finance, I feel well placed to represent and deliver against the needs of our members and patrons.

“Over the last ten years, the importance of the commercial finance broker in the UK’s financial ecosystem has continued to increase.”