Cambridge & Counties Bank has announced the appointment of Sarah Barker as its new chief commercial officer.

Barker will be responsible for growing the specialist lender’s real estate finance, asset finance, deposit, and marketing businesses.

She was previously director of relationship banking at The Co-operative Bank and prior to this held a number of senior roles in a 13-year career with Lloyds Banking Group.

Barker says: “Cambridge & Counties Bank has become a major competitor in its target markets, with excellent teams working closely with customers and brokers to deliver enhanced, dedicated solutions.

“The bank is very well positioned to take further market share and I look forward to helping Cambridge & Counties achieve its ambitions.”

Cambridge & Counties Bank chief executive officer Donal Kerr says: “Sarah is a highly impressive individual, and it’s great to have someone of her calibre join the team.

“She has very strong ideas on how to build the bank going forward and her passion for SME banking is very clear.”