Our national search campaign, which included targeted advertising and headhunting, resulted in a very large pool of qualified candidates. There was a huge volume of enthusiastic responses from the business community, particularly from the South West, underscoring SWIG's vital role in the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Through a selective interview process, we refined the pool of candidates to the most impressive individuals who were a good cultural fit for SWIG. We produced a detailed report, outlining the strengths of each candidate, and how they could positively impact the organisation. Although initially looking for two NEDs, SWIG ultimately appointed four of our recommended candidates: Carmen Peacock, Gonzalo Truijilo, Harry Partington, and David McCarthy.  

This diverse group of appointees significantly strengthens SWIG’s Board, adding a unique combination of skills and experience, complementing the existing expertise.

Carmen Peacock brings extensive experience in debt finance and corporate banking solutions. As Head of Private Capital and the Regional Head of Corporate bank relationships for the South West and South Wales, she’s an essential figure in Lloyds Bank. In addition, In her capacity as Chair of the CBI South West, Ms. Peacock has a strong connection to the region's business community as she champions regional priorities and seeks to influence national policy. Furthermore, Ms Peacock demonstrates a strong commitment to local communities through numerous Charity Board memberships, taking on responsibilities in fundraising, governance, remuneration, and financial oversight.

Gonzalo Trujillo possesses a unique background in founding and scaling purpose-driven businesses, such as Pieminister and Orchard Pig, showcasing his ability to drive growth while prioritising sustainability and social impact. He is an experienced Non-Executive Director, adept at business transformation and strategic development. As Managing Partner at Heron Capital Partners, Mr. Trujillo led a regional active investment fund focused on SMEs, gaining a strong understanding of the financial challenges faced by small businesses and experience guiding companies through various growth phases.

Harry Partington offers significant Non-Executive Director experience, currently serving as Chair of the Board of Brighter Places and Southern Brooks, and previous Chair of the Great Western Credit Union. His insights into the SME sector are derived from 15 years in various roles at Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Ireland and Royal London Mutual, and in management consultancy. Mr Partington is passionate about delivering customer insight-driven outcomes that generating positive social impact, while maintaining a strong and realistic focus on sustainable commercial delivery.

Co-founder of Atom Bank, the UK's first digital bank, David McCarthy brings extensive fintech knowledge and hands-on experience raising capital and providing business loans. He has held CFO and senior roles at multiple financial businesses, spanning a range of ownership models. Mr McCarthy has also served on several credit committees, where he was instrumental in setting credit policy and underwriting business and personal loans. He brings NED and Trustee experience from a variety organisations.