Enra Specialist Finance has appointed Preben Prebensen as its new chairman following the acquisition of the firm by fund manager Elliott Advisors last spring. 

Prebensen joins the specialist lender after leading investment bank Close Brothers Group as chief executive for 11 years until September 2020. 

Enra says that during Prebensen’s time at the bank it “tripled the size of its specialist lending business while also building successful wealth management and equity trading businesses”. 

Prebensen holds several board roles, including chair of specialist insurance company RiverStone International, joining in August 2021 and is a senior independent director at British Land, which he joined in September 2017.   

In March, Elliot Advisers bought a majority stake in Enra Specialist Finance for an undisclosed sum. 

Elliott acquired its part of the business from the lender’s management and Exponent Private Equity, which had owned Enra for five years before exiting the business completely following the sale. 

Enra Specialist Finance founder and chief executive Danny Waters says: “Preben brings unrivalled experience as well as a real passion and enthusiasm to help us achieve our ambitions as we continue to build the UK’s leading non-bank specialist lender.” 

Prebensen adds: “My role will be to advise and support Danny and the team who have done a great job establishing Enra and I very much look forward to working with them, and with Elliott Advisors who bring deep expertise and resources as owners.”